Improving Energy Efficiency using Behaviourally Informed Smart Technology: A Lab, Online and Large Scale Field Trial

Project Description

This multi-method project combines laboratory, online and field trials with the aim of enhancing consumer comprehension of energy wastage and reducing wastage related to water heating in the home. 1) By developing and testing the application of novel technology using behavioural science, the publicly available results can be used within the Irish marketplace to aid the development and deployment of other smart products.2) One barrier to the uptake and success of smart technologies is whether consumers have the capability to use the information they receive. This project will focus on informed consumer behaviour by testing what formats maximise consumer comprehension of their energy consumption and drive behaviour change.3) By using state-of-the-art research methods to assess consumer behaviour in controlled trials in the laboratory, online and in the field, the results will not just be applicable to energy policy and industry but will further core scientific knowledge about consumer comprehension of smart technologies. The results from the research will be written up for high-quality peer-reviewed journals with international reach to grow Ireland's capacity for future energy RD&D.4) The consortium of the ESRI, Ireland's leading not-for-profit policy research institute, and climote, an established company in the Irish smart home technology market, will provide strong real-world evidence to guide policymakers on the effects of these products on residential energy consumption.