tony craig socio-economic research group macaulay land use research institute aberdeen, scotland
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Technology, Gadgets and Energy Feedback Comparing Total Household Energy with Disaggregated Feedback. Tony Craig Socio-Economic Research Group Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen, Scotland Email: [email protected]. . What Behaviour…..?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Tony CraigSocio-Economic Research Group
Macaulay Land Use Research InstituteAberdeen, Scotland
Email: [email protected]
Technology, Gadgets and
Energy FeedbackComparing Total Household Energy with Disaggregated
Feedback.
What Behaviour…..?• ….. Energy consumption is not ‘a behaviour’!• Overall goal => reduce those behaviours associated
with high energy consumption.• Efficiency vs. Curtailment Behaviours• Essentially, efficiency is about maximising utility for
each unit of energy consumed.• E.g. Buying a fuel efficient car (reasoned decision)
• Rebound effect problem• E.g. Insulating a house may have a theoretical energy reduction
potential of 20%, but only 5% of these savings are realised because the thermostat was turned up (or more rooms were heated)
• If utility=“subjective satisfaction”, when do people become ‘subjectively satisfied’? Is this important?
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
Interventions
• Two main strategies….– Antecedent Strategies:
– (Commitment, Goal Setting, Information)– Consequence Strategies:
– (Feedback, Rewards)
• Combined strategies: – (Goal Setting + Feedback)
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
Energy Feedback
• One definition of feedback = “The transmission of evaluative or corrective information about an action, event, or process to the original or controlling source”
• Energy feedback = Feedback about household energy consumption to the ‘original or controlling source’
• Making the invisible visible….• Making the intangible tangible…..
• E.g. Thermometer; Gas Bills, Real-time electricity display…
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
Internal Temperature
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
Source: Utley and Shorrock (2006)
Do people know how warm their houses are?
Increases in Efficiency
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
30
25
20
15
Inefficient House
Efficient House
Outdoor Temperature
Indo
or T
empe
ratu
re
•What if the heat is all let out through the bedroom window?
•When a house feels hot, people open windows…
•Humidity is also important.
<18C
Disaggregated feedback
CH Boiler thermostat or individual room thermometers?
Aggregate Circuit Monitoringvs
Individual Appliance Monitoring
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
Energy Feedback
• Indirect Feedback– Standard Billing– Enhanced Billing (e.g. additional advice)– Estimated Feedback (e.g. web-based
energy audits)– Weekly feedback based on self-meter-
reading• Direct Feedback
– Real-time Feedback (e.g. in-home displays)
– Real-time plus (e.g. including appliance disaggregation)
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
Source: EPRI (2009)
Study Overview
• “North East Scotland Energy Monitoring Project” • Research Questions:
– What is the energy conservation effect associated with real time energy feedback? (10%?)
– What is the energy conservation effect associated with internet-connected energy display technology?
– What is the energy conservation effect (if any) associated with individual appliance monitoring?
– What effect do these interventions have on wider psychological factors (attitudes, comfort, perceived social norms, etc..)
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
What stuff is involved?
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
MONITOR IAMS BRIDGE
Internet Bridge
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
‘Neighbourhood’ averages
Summarised Study Design
Monitor Internet-Bridge
IAMS
‘Control’ Group
328Group 1 (baseline)
132Group 2 168Group 3 300Group 4 300
900 600 1800 1228
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
(All groups will fill in a standardised carbon footprint calculator)
600Following a learning period, 50% of the monitor group will be set a difficult goal (reduce daily KWhr by 20%)
Aberdeenshire Council Employees
Recruitment• Recruitment Questionnaire (online)
– Very short – Job Title, Office, Demographics, Broadband Access– Informed Consent
• Randomise to condition• All participants fill in (at baseline):
– CO2 calculator– Questionnaire about environmental attitudes,
behaviours, social capital, QoL, etc….• 50% of monitor participants asked to reduce
daily consumption by 20% (after learning period)
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
Timescale
• Control and ‘baseline’ group recruited already
• All other groups to be recruited in the next couple of months
• Project to run for minimum of two years (8 seasons), with likely extension.
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
What works?.....
• Literature tells us that a combination of feedback and goal setting works.
• This study will shed some light on the magnitude of this effect.
• We already know the technical solutions to energy efficiency – especially for keeping buildings warm – improve the building stock.
• Simply giving people gadgets is unlikely to be the most effective strategy in encouraging energy efficiency.
• A combination of technology, gadgets and a better psychological understanding of individuals is needed….
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
Or….
• Going to bed earlier?– Less demand for heating (and lighting)– Beneficial for mental health.
• (sometimes the easiest solutions are the most effective)
Tony Craig Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen [email protected]
