Coupling technology and organizational dynamics to induce energy efficient behavior

Lead PI: Patricia Culligan , Professor Richard A. Plunz

Unit Affiliation: Columbia Engineering

January 2008 - December 2009
Inactive
North America ; United States
Project Type: Research

DESCRIPTION: This research involves developing a model and user interface to share information about building energy use in a multi-family residential building. The toolkit was implemented in a pilot study across the building to examine energy use consequences of different information sharing approaches.

OUTCOMES: We found that coupling energy use with occupants resulted in substantial savings in energy use (27.3%). However, toward the end of the study the majority of the participants exhibited a relapse in conservation behavior. The group that exhibited a statistically robust response and reduced consumption the most was the group exposed to peer utilization data

SPONSOR:

The Earth Institute

FUNDED AMOUNT:

$31,985

RESEARCH TEAM:

Siegel

EXTERNAL COLLABORATORS:

University of Texas at Austin

KEYWORDS

residential buildings conservation energy

THEMES

Sustainable living