An anthropological study of utilities consumption for “My Home Online”

Abstract

This article presents the results of an anthropological study of utility sector, conducted for the cloud-based subscription service “My Home Online”. The purpose of the research was to study the basic needs of the residents of Ukrainian apartment buildings and cottages concerning housing, communal services, and home management, as well as their experience of communicating with organizations responsible for providing such services. The study was conducted in Irpin, a town located in the suburbs of Kyiv. As a result, we were able not only to classify utility users depending on their preferred way of home management but also to delve deeper into the context that influenced the mechanisms of consumption of these services. The study analyzes both the advantages and disadvantages of different types of home management: public and private home management companies, apartment blocks joint owners associations. Home management companies, it turns out, are most suitable for people who do not want to participate actively in the process of the house management because it is much more convenient for them to simply pay a known amount of money and get appropriate services. However, private home management companies are often accused of underhanded billing policies and fraud. Apartment blocks joint owners associations, for their part, will suit people who want to participate in home management. After all, this form of organization involves active interaction with neighbors and cooperation aimed at improving their living. In addition to formal organizations in Irpin, a number of informal ways of managing homes implemented by the authorities of neighborhood communities are also identified. The research analyzes the specifics of communication with organizations providing home management and utilities, considers the features of communication concerning home management between neighbors, formal and informal ways of such communication. Another important block of the research is the study of payment practices for utilities - “online banking” and payment services in bank offices. As a result, the level of readiness to use online housing management systems was analyzed, and points of tension between residents of different generations and worldviews were identified. The research includes some recommendations for the online service, containing the list of needs of the residents of Ukrainian apartment buildings and cottages in regard to public utilities and home management.