Header Image
Energy Research Topics: Energy Behaviour
Energy systems are socio-technical - they are strongly influenced by personal and social variables. We take a particular interest in individual and social learning about energy, the uses of feedback on consumption in altering behaviour, and the changes in people’s ideas of comfort over time.
Projects
- ADEPT: Advanced Dynamic Energy Pricing and Tariffs
2010 - 2013
A collaboration to address a question raised by the development of variable electricity tariffs to match demand with supply more closely: "How complicated should a dynamic electricity tariff be, in order to be accepted by the public while offering clear incentives for reduction in energy demand, especially at times of supply constraint?
- imeasure: energy monitoring tool
2009-2011
an easy-to-use online tool for accurately measuring and monitoring home energy use and carbon emissions over time..
- Climate Solidarity
Jul 09 - Jun 11
ECI is working collaboration to undertake monitoring and evaluation of Defra's Climate Solidarity project under the Greener Living Fund.
- Carbon Labelling
May 2007
ECI have led a number of workshops and events on the topic of carbon labelling, aimed to develop consensus on key issues associated with product carbon labelling.
- Green Electricity: Advising the customer
May 06
With many different green electricity products on the market, customers are confused as to which ones really are best for the environment. The ECI has been developing a Code of Practice for suppliers, to ensure they are given clear, accurate information on which to base their choices.
- Metering, billing and displays
Apr 06
Most UK householders have only a vague idea of how much energy they are using for different purposes. This report reviews options for giving customers feedback about their usage and summarises what is known about effects on behaviour.
More Energy Behaviour projects
Documents & Media
Reports
- Bottrill, B (2007) Internet-based carbon tools for behaviour change
- Report on Carbon Labelling Symposium, 18th May 2007 - Symposium aimed to develop consensus on key issues associated with product carbon labelling.
- Carbon Labelling: evidence, issues and questions - Tesco-ECI Workshop 3/4th May 2007 - Briefing Paper | Appendix Material | Final Report
- Boardman, B and Palmer J. Electricity disclosure – the troubled birth of a new policy. Energy Policy, Vol 35, Issue 10, p 4947-4958, October 2007.
- Boardman, B., Christian, J. and Lipp, J. (2006) Green Electricity Code of Practice - A Scoping Study
- Darby, S. (2006) The effectiveness of feedback on energy consumption
A review for DEFRA of the literature on metering, billing and direct displays.
Appendix material - Bottrill, C. (2006) Are we wasting the web? Environmental Change Institute Report.
Print, Radio & TV
Journal papers
- Darby S (2008) Energy feedback in buildings - improving the infrastructure for demand reduction. Building Research and Information 36 (5), 499-508
- Janda, K. (2007) Turning Solar Consumers Into Solar Citizens: Strategies For Wise Energy Use. In Solar 2007, Proceedings of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) Annual Meeting, July 8-13, 2007 (Cleveland, OH).
- Petersen, J. E., Shunturov, V., Janda, K., Platt, G., & Weinberger, K. Dormitory residents reduce electricity consumption when exposed to real-time visual feedback and incentives. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 8(1), 16-33, 2007.
Conference papers
- Darby S (2008) Why, what, when, how, where and who? Developing UK policy on metering, billing and energy display devices. In Proceedings of ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Asilomar, CA. August 17-22, 2008
- Bottrill, C. (2007) Internet-based tools for behaviour change In Proceedings of 8th ECEEE Conference - Just Do It!