Temperature linked to at-home productivity: 24°C is the optimal standard temperature for human occupancy and energy efficiency. A slightly cooler temperature of 22°C effectively aids the highest level of work productivity (for men and children). Women have better mental agility at higher temperatures (26°C). Uninterrupted sleep is better achieved in cooler temperatures (20°C). Exercise is also more effective at cooler temperatures (20°C--21°C).
Why nudge theory works until a kick in the backside is needed:
The past decade has demonstrated when 'choice architecture' in politics can succeed and when it doesn't work.
Homes using less, however, began to let their use creep up toward the average.Messaging that works:
The majority of your neighbors are undertaking energy saving actions every day.
This design is the first to use simple language to communicate with home owners about their energy usage. Unlike any IHD on the market, it contains a thermal model of the building and its occupants, enabling it to make useful and accurate recommendations to home owners when they are demonstrating poor energy usage. For example, if a home owner's central heating stayed on until 10am each day despite the house being unoccupied by 8am, the device would calculate the amount of money being wasted and suggest the home owner adjust their heating clock to 8am. Instead of just relying on monetary waste as a motivational factor, the system can also "speak" in non-monetary units such as loss of tree cover, tons of carbon or cost to society – thus aligning itself to differently motivated households.
Health officials thought (correctly) that fresh air would ward off airborne diseases; then as now, cities rushed to move activities outdoors, from schools to courtrooms. When winter came, the need for fresh air didn't abate. According to Holohan's research, the Board of Health in New York City ordered that windows should remain open to provide ventilation, even in cold weather. In response, engineers began devising heating systems with this extreme use case in mind. Steam heating and radiators were designed to heat buildings on the coldest day of the year with all the windows open.
Majority of Brits want their new home to be environmentally sustainable:
The majority (78%) of people consider the environmentally sustainable performance of a building important when choosing a new home, BLP Insurance has found. ... When asked about environmentally sustainable features, almost a quarter ranked energy efficient heating and hot water systems as their top priority if they were choosing a new home, followed by double glazing and solar panels.
Energy retail 2.0: How and why 'energy as a service' is changing the game:
Where pay as you go credit agreements used to see customers pay for the texts they sent and the minutes they spent, contract agreements have taken hold whereby a fixed bill is paid covering a set amount of texts, minutes and data with added payments for those that go over their agreed limits....
If you are a customer and you have the ability to flex, you are unlikely to want to engage in the complexity of the different flexibility services that are offered by the market, but you would like to benefit from them. That therefore means that the energy as a service model enables that to happen as part of a general comfort sale transaction, whereas if you're selling someone kilowatt hours then it becomes two separate bits - the energy [being bought] and the flexibility offering.
The employers' guide to smart meters and energy efficiency awareness: sample finding
The [De Montfort University Leicester] study found that visual imagery that gives emotional cues can be more effective than words or numbers in getting building users to change their behaviour. The use of happy and sad faces, which is more common and easier to replicate, relies on the same principles.
How heating controls affect domestic energy demand: a rapid evidence assessment:
... there is not a consistent and reliable body of evidence on the capacity of heating control technology to contribute to energy savings. Little evidence exists on the role of consumer behaviour with regards to heating controls, yet some research does point to the poor usability of heating controls and that use is often driven by thermal comfort rather than saving energy. The report also highlights that heating controls are typically replaced with boilers, which is 5% per year. Secondary analysis of EFUS data found that 49% of households have a full set of heating controls including a central timer, thermostatic radiator valves and room thermostats.
16.5 degrees [C] is the Goldilocks temperature for the Brits – not hot enough for air-con, not [cold enough] to put the heating on.
Beyond Willpower: Strategies for Reducing Failures of Self-Control:
...evidence from both psychological science and economics recommends psychologically informed policies for reducing failures of self-control.Also see
These 6 self-control tips work better than willpower.
How does eco-coaching help to save energy? Assessing a recommendation system for energy-efficient thermostat scheduling
... eco-coaching: giving personalized suggestions for specific actions that would reduce wasted energy....
Our study shows that eco-coaching accomplished four things. First, it made it easier for users to implement an effective thermostat schedule. Second, it supported user agency in negotiating energy savings and comfort goals. Third, it facilitated learning different scheduling strategies as well as weighing different options. Finally, it challenged users' beliefs about how well they were doing. These outcomes, in turn, were successful in getting users to employ and experiment with more efficient setback strategies....
[] found that participants perceived proactive suggestions to be more useful than feedback messages, although they did not necessarily follow the suggestions....
Having a choice provided sense of control in negotiating energy savings and comfort goals....
Eco-feedforward supported decision-making by presenting quantified estimates of future savings.
What motivates consumers to make ethically conscious decisions?
Only 47% of UK adults believe that individual efforts to limit their own impact on climate change are worthwhile, although this rises to 70% of readers and users of the Guardian and Observer, who tend to be more eco-conscious....
What the research shows clearly is that while there are a few areas where there are similarities in ethical behaviour among a broad range of consumers, in the majority of cases there is no silver bullet; companies need to take a nuanced and tailored approach.
Developing English domestic occupancy profiles
A systematic literature review also established that the occupancy categories most frequently used in UK building simulation are (a) a family with dependent children where the parents work full time; and (b) a retired elderly couple who spend most of their time indoors. The interview sample from the English Housing Survey 2014–15 was used to map household typologies. Results show that categories (a) and (b) combined amount to only 19% of England's households, which suggest models are over-reliant on these groups. Considering this result, the paper develops occupancy patterns for England derived from 2015 UK Time Use Survey diaries for each household typology previously identified.
Greenhouse gas emission statistics - carbon footprints:
The EU's total carbon footprint was equal to 7.2 tonnes of CO2 per person in 2017 ... In 2017, final consumption of electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning had the biggest carbon footprint (0.77 tonnes of CO2/person) in the EU.
In the heat of the night: ... how findings from a study I was involved in suggest a challenge for meeting morning peaks in heat demand in winter if we electrify heating in the UK:
... during really cold periods, the difference in gas demand between 5am and 8am on weekdays can be really big (up to 116 GW)....
It seems that people who didn't experience any problems were naturally containing the pre-heating to areas of the house that didn't bother them overnight, such as the living room (when they were in the bedroom). Those that did have problems had no such separation from the pre-heating.
Performance gaps in energy consumption: household groups and building characteristics:
... low-income households consume more gas per m^2 (space heating and hot water) than households with a high income for all types of housing. Furthermore, the performance gap is caused not only by the occupant but also by the assumed building characteristics.
2.5m (15% of) homeowners have NEVER switched energy supplier
and are potentially missing out on collective savings of £728m, 53% of homeowners haven't changed energy supplier for over three years, 27% of those surveyed think that it's too much hassle to change provider.
From good broadband to bath tubs: 20 features that could sell your home:
... insurance comparison website Gocompare Home Insurance has compiled a list that shows the top 20 features for UK home-buyers ... 1 Central Heating (82%), 2 Double glazing, 3 Secure Doors and windows, ... 9 A reliable, clear mobile phone signal, 10 A good energy efficiency rating (52%) ... 15 Cavity wall insulation ... 20 A new boiler or central heating system (37%) ... Good broadband and mobile signal strength have climbed the furthest on the list, along with a good energy efficiency rating.
Learning to live in a smart home:
Smart homes promise to significantly enhance domestic comfort, convenience, security and leisure whilst simultaneously reducing energy use through optimized home energy management. Their ability to achieve these multiple aims rests fundamentally on how they are used by householders, yet very little is currently known about this topic. The few studies that have explored the use of smart homes have tended to focus on special-interest groups and be quite short-term. ... there is little evidence that smart home technologies will generate substantial energy savings ...
Homo Economicus
is a term that describes the rational human being assumed by some economists when deriving, explaining and verifying theories and models. Homo economicus, or economic human, is the figurative human being characterized by the infinite ability to make rational decisions. Certain economic models have traditionally relied on the assumption that humans are rational and will attempt to maximize their utility for both monetary and non-monetary gains. Modern behavioral economists and neuroeconomists, however, have demonstrated that human beings are, in fact, not rational in their decision making...
... When technological progress increases the efficiency with which a resource is used (reducing the amount necessary for any one use), but the rate of consumption of that resource rises because of increasing demand.
Data-driven Identification of Occupant Thermostat-Behavior Dynamics:
Building occupant behavior drives significant differences in building energy use, even in automated buildings. Users' distrust in the automation causes them to override settings. This results in responses that fail to satisfy both the occupants' and/or the building automation's objectives. ... on average, a 2°F override will occur after ~30 mins. and an 8°F override will occur in only ~15 mins...
I present the case of Budget Warmth, a HaaS tariff offered commercially in Great Britain in the 1980s. I suggest reasons for its failure (despite early enthusiasm), including tensions between occupant expectations and operators' commercial interests, and lack of incentives to provide flexibility within the system as whole. I then consider the extent to which these challenges exist for HaaS offerings today....
The Budget Warmth tariff was introduced in 1985/86. It was targeted at low-income, elderly customers and promised to provide them with at least one warm room at all times (between October and April/May). As part of the offer, one or more electric storage heaters would be installed in their home, controllable remotely via the radio teleswitch by the local energy board (the regional agencies responsible for supplying energy to customers at the time). The heater(s) would be charged overnight for long enough to ensure sufficient heating during the following day (with the possibility of an afternoon top-up if necessary), based on weather forecasts. The cost of the equipment and anticipated electricity use was spread evenly in weekly charges throughout the year. The electricity used by the heaters was unmetered, meaning that all fees were based on estimates of the amount of electricity input that would be required.
What puts you off / frustrates you about switching energy?: 23%
Firms I've not heard of come cheapest – don't know if they're any goodthough ~33% said
None of the above, switching is easy.
Even in dwellings that have achieved specific standards energy consumption may be dramatically different depending on the occupants' energy-use behaviour, their lifestyle and any extensions or alterations they make to the house....
Research suggests that, in general, a new type of behaviour formed over a three-month period or longer, appears to be likely to endure, although continued feedback is necessary to help maintain the change....
Research suggests that controls should be easy to understand and provide instant, tangible feedback so that occupants know that the system has operated. They should also be located as close to the point of need as possible and have sufficient fine control to give the necessary level of adjustment. There is a need to develop control systems that allow effective zoning of a dwelling, although this needs to be coupled with educating occupants on the need to close doors in winter to prevent bedrooms becoming too warm and living rooms too cool....
Consumers do not appear to want futuristic or revolutionary homes but prefer ones which are reliable extensions of what is already familiar.
The installation of the majority of individual housing measures (new windows and doors; boilers; kitchens; bathrooms; electrics; loft insulation; and cavity/external wall insulation) were associated with improvements in several social (housing suitability, satisfaction, and quality; thermal comfort and household finances) and health (mental, respiratory and general health) outcomes; and analyses showed relationships between the number of measures installed and the total amount invested on the one hand and the social and health outcomes on the other. There were however a few exceptions. Most notably, the installation of cavity wall insulation was associated with poorer health outcomes, and did not lead to better social outcomes. Also, no association was found between the number of measures installed and respiratory health. ... However, there may be risks associated with specific measures; and more attention is needed for mechanical ventilation when upgrading energy efficiency of houses through fabric work.
... The latest English Housing Survey, published annually by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), also shows that more younger people are renting as are more families. ... The proportion of those aged 25 to 34 who lived in the private rented sector increased from 24% in 2005/2006 to 46% in 2015/2016. ... While the energy efficiency and quality of the private rented sector has improved, standards lag behind the social rented sector ...
... about 30 per cent of people said they were in favour of switching to a static time of use tariff...
The most popular tariff was one involving direct load control (allowing electricity suppliers to cycle people's heating systems off and on in return for a lower flat rate)...
People who are highly financially loss-averse were much less likely to switch...
Telling people they should switch to save money on their energy bills (gain- frame) was no more persuasive than telling people they would lose out on savings if they didn't switch (loss-frame). Telling people about the environmental and energy security implications of time of use tariffs also made no difference to their willingness to switch to the tariff...
these results suggest that the design of the tariff itself may be more important to consumers than the way it is communicated.
Utilizing modulating-temperature setpoints to save energy and maintain alliesthesia-based comfort:
One area with the greatest potential for energy savings in buildings is heating and cooling. However, it is often argued that any energy-saving techniques should not have a negative impact on comfort for inhabitants. This is where the concept of alliesthesia comes into play. This paper examines the impact of utilizing modulating temperature setpoints to take advantage of the pleasure experienced through change. Simulations were conducted using EnergyPlus to explore the potential for energy savings. It was found that savings of up to 5–15% could be achieved by modulating indoor temperatures in cooling applications. However, modulating temperature setpoints resulted in larger energy usage than constant setpoints in heating applications. Results from human comfort experiments show that modulating temperatures could lead to greater thermal pleasure than a constant temperature environment for cooling situations due to a resetting of the thermal comfort achieved when the indoor temperature is decreased...
The research shows that participants were able to save money by reducing their energy consumption on average by 3.3% a year, which is the equivalent of using 5% less electricity at peak times. It proved that customers who may struggle to pay their energy bills can save just as much as any other demographic once they are engaged in the smart meter rollout.
While our personal small and painless changes fall short on their own, it is assumed that they can "spillover," priming us and encouraging us to do the bigger, harder, more impactful stuff. On the flip side, they may allow us to check off our "did my part" box and blind us to other, larger changes we could make. WWF's report offers an examination of this "spillover" effect, exploring the potential for one small pro-environmental behaviour to lead to another (positive spillover) as well as the potential for a pro-environmental behavior to have the opposite effect, discouraging a person from adopting other pro-environmental behaviours (negative spillover).
Which Supercomplaint against confusopolycf DECC's maximum of four energy tariffs.
Wolseley resurrects campaign to stamp out 'Zombie Boiler' apocalypse:
Worse still, two million [UK homes] are believed to be heated by a boiler so decrepit they have been labelled 'zombie boilers'.
(Count: 8)