Centre for Sustainability Agriculture - Food - Energy - Environment ECO-FEEDBACK IN THE HOME WHAT CONSUMERS WANT REBECCA FORD BETH KARLIN UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO, NZ NAVETAS ENERGY MANAGEMENT LTD., UK UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
DEFINING ECO FEEDBACK Define eco-feedback as Information presented to users about their individual or group behaviours, with a goal of influencing future energy saving strategies and reducing environmental impact McCalley & Midden (1998), Holmes (2007), Froehlich et al. (2010)
OUTLINE How does feedback: work best? motivate and effect behavioural intention to use less energy? appeal to consumers?
FEEDBACK TO HOUSEHOLDS Feedback is effective 5 15% Darby (2006)
FEEDBACK WHAT WORKS BEST? Tech-driven Frequent Interactive Clear Disaggregated Personal Long-term Context Darby (2006), Fischer (2008), Ehrhardt-Martinez et al. (2010)
NAVETAS ENERGY MANAGEMENT Single sensor Aggregate information GPRS WiFi Central server Disaggregation Appliance specific information
FEEDBACK WHAT WORKS BEST? Effect of eco-feedback visualizations on: Motivation to reduce consumption Specific behavioural intentions Perceptions of usefulness
FEEDBACK WHAT WORKS BEST? Effect of eco-feedback visualizations on: Motivation to reduce consumption Specific behavioural intentions Perceptions of usefulness
METHODOLOGY Control Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 1 + Treatment 2
Top 5 energy consuming appliances in the home during the previous month TREATMENT 1
TREATMENT 2 Energy saving tip based on user specific information from disaggregated feedback
METHODOLOGY Control (sum up of monthly energy use) Top 5 Tip Top 5 & Tip
EFFECTS ON MOTIVATION 4.4 Motivation to Reduce Consumption 4.2 Motivation Level 4 3.8 3.6 3.4 3.2 Control Top 5 Tip Top 5 & Tip
FEEDBACK WHAT WORKS BEST? Effect of eco-feedback visualizations on: Motivation to reduce consumption Specific behavioural intentions Perceptions of usefulness
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Install energy efficient lighting Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms Turn fridge temperature up Pull fridge away from wall Do laundry at lower temperature settings Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones Turn thermostat down on heating (a) Use heating for less time (a) Install home insulation Install solar panels Turn thermostat down on heating (b) Use heating for less time (b) Turn off electrical devices completely
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Install energy efficient lighting Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms Turn fridge temperature up Pull fridge away from wall Do laundry at lower temperature settings Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones Turn thermostat down on heating (a) Use heating for less time (a) Install home insulation Install solar panels Turn thermostat down on heating (b) Use heating for less time (b) Turn off electrical devices completely
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Install energy efficient lighting Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms Turn fridge temperature up Pull fridge away from wall Do laundry at lower temperature settings Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones Turn thermostat down on heating (a) Use heating for less time (a) Install home insulation Install solar panels Turn thermostat down on heating (b) Use heating for less time (b) Turn off electrical devices completely
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Install energy efficient lighting Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms Turn fridge temperature up Pull fridge away from wall Do laundry at lower temperature settings Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones Turn thermostat down on heating (a) Use heating for less time (a) Install home insulation Install solar panels Turn thermostat down on heating (b) Use heating for less time (b) Turn off electrical devices completely
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Install energy efficient lighting Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms Turn fridge temperature up Pull fridge away from wall Do laundry at lower temperature settings Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones Turn thermostat down on heating (a) Use heating for less time (a) Install home insulation Install solar panels Turn thermostat down on heating (b) Use heating for less time (b) Turn off electrical devices completely
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Install energy efficient lighting Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms Turn fridge temperature up Pull fridge away from wall Do laundry at lower temperature settings Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones Turn thermostat down on heating (a) Use heating for less time (a) Install home insulation Install solar panels Turn thermostat down on heating (b) Use heating for less time (b) Turn off electrical devices completely
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Install energy efficient lighting Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms Turn fridge temperature up Pull fridge away from wall Do laundry at lower temperature settings Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones Turn thermostat down on heating (a) Use heating for less time (a) Install home insulation Install solar panels Turn thermostat down on heating (b) Use heating for less time (b) Turn off electrical devices completely
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Install energy efficient lighting Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms Turn fridge temperature up Pull fridge away from wall Do laundry at lower temperature settings Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones Turn thermostat down on heating (a) Use heating for less time (a) Install home insulation Install solar panels Turn thermostat down on heating (b) Use heating for less time (b) Turn off electrical devices completely
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Install energy efficient lighting Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms Turn fridge temperature up Pull fridge away from wall Do laundry at lower temperature settings Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones Turn thermostat down on heating (a) Use heating for less time (a) Install home insulation Install solar panels Turn thermostat down on heating (b) Use heating for less time (b) Turn off electrical devices completely
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Control Top5 Tip Install energy efficient lighting 48% 59% 63% Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms 62% 65% 62% Turn fridge temperature up 14% 18% 15% Pull fridge away from wall 18% 27% 20% Do laundry at lower temperature settings 39% 47% 36% Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones 29% 36% 27% Turn thermostat down on heating (a) 38% 58% 41% Use heating for less time (a) 61% 62% 43% Install home insulation 30% 29% 27% Install solar panels 20% 18% 12% Turn thermostat down on heating (b) 51% 50% 48% Use heating for less time (b) 58% 59% 54% Turn off electrical devices completely 52% 49% 48%
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Control Top5 Tip Install energy efficient lighting 48% 59% 63% Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms 62% 65% 62% Turn fridge temperature up 14% 18% 15% Pull fridge away from wall 18% 27% 20% Do laundry at lower temperature settings 39% 47% 36% Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones 29% 36% 27% Turn thermostat down on heating (a) 38% 58% 41% Use heating for less time (a) 61% 62% 43% Install home insulation 30% 29% 27% Install solar panels 20% 18% 12% Turn thermostat down on heating (b) 51% 50% 48% Use heating for less time (b) 58% 59% 54% Turn off electrical devices completely 52% 49% 48%
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Control Top5 Tip Install energy efficient lighting 48% 59% 63% Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms 62% 65% 62% Turn fridge temperature up 14% 18% 15% Pull fridge away from wall 18% 27% 20% Do laundry at lower temperature settings 39% 47% 36% Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones 29% 36% 27% Turn thermostat down on heating (a) 38% 58% 41% Use heating for less time (a) 61% 62% 43% Install home insulation 30% 29% 27% Install solar panels 20% 18% 12% Turn thermostat down on heating (b) 51% 50% 48% Use heating for less time (b) 58% 59% 54% Turn off electrical devices completely 52% 49% 48%
SPECIFIC ENERGY BEHAVIOURS Behaviour Control Top5 Tip Install energy efficient lighting 48% 59% 63% Turn lights off in unoccupied rooms 62% 65% 62% Turn fridge temperature up 14% 18% 15% Pull fridge away from wall 18% 27% 20% Do laundry at lower temperature settings 39% 47% 36% Upgrade my appliances to energy efficient ones 29% 36% 27% Turn thermostat down on heating (a) 38% 58% 41% Use heating for less time (a) 61% 62% 43% Install home insulation 30% 29% 27% Install solar panels 20% 18% 12% Turn thermostat down on heating (b) 51% 50% 48% Use heating for less time (b) 58% 59% 54% Turn off electrical devices completely 52% 49% 48%
DISAGGREGATED FEEDBACK Providing details of the Top 5 energy consuming appliances Increased motivation Increased self reported behaviour intention (but only for the appliances in the Top 5)
PERSONAL ENERGY SAVING TIP Providing an energy saving tip Did not increase motivation Increased self reported behaviour intention for the behavior in the tip Might reduce self reported behaviour intention for other behaviours
FEEDBACK WHAT WORKS BEST? Affect of eco-feedback visualizations on: Motivation to reduce consumption Specific behavioural intentions Perceptions of usefulness
PERCEPTIONS OF USEFULNESS Whole house feedback: Temporal granularity
PERCEPTIONS OF USEFULNESS 3.9 Temporal Granularity Perceived usefulness 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.4 Day Week Month
USE BY WEEK VS. MONTH
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Decision accuracy 7 Information Eppler & Mengis (2004), Miller (1956)
USE BY DAY VS. MONTH
WHAT S USEFUL? Simplicity Less than 7 data points Connect to everyday lives Granularity matter
SO WHAT S NEXT Consider effects on knowledge as well as perception and preference. Measure actual engagement with specific behaviours.
QUESTIONS? Rebecca Ford rebecca.ford@otago.ac.n z Acknowledgements Chris Shelley Navetas Energy Management Nick Wellington Navetas Energy Management Beth Karlin University of California, Irvine Centre for Sustainability Agriculture - Food - Energy - Environment