Exploring the role of messenger effects and feedback frames in promoting uptake of energy-efficient technologies

The persuasive potential for varying messenger types and feedback frames to increase pro-environmental choice was explored in a 2 (feedback frame: financial vs. environmental) × 5 (messenger type: neighbour, government, industry, utilities vs. control) factorial design experiment. Using the context of home heating choice, 493 non-student participants were given information on either the financial or environmental benefits of selecting an energy-efficient heat pump versus a standard boiler, as described by one of four messenger types (versus a no-messenger control). Likelihood of selecting the ‘green’ technology was assessed, as well as any carry-over effects on real-life behavioural intentions. Additionally, we assessed the messenger attributes that appeared to be most important in this context, in terms of whether sources that were perceived to be trustworthy, knowledgeable, or a combination of both dimensions, would hold greater sway over preference formation. Overall, no evidence was found for any impact of messenger type on either preference formation or behavioural intentions. However, message content (i.e. how information on the benefits of pro-environmental choice was framed), was found to have substantial impact on behaviour; with the financial versus environmental decision frame being significantly more likely to encourage uptake of the energy-efficient versus standard technology. We suggest that the level of processing required for the kinds of large-scale purchase decisions we consider here may explain the lack of any messenger effect on choice behaviour. Implications for the development of behaviour change interventions designed to promote consideration of energy-efficient technologies in this context are discussed

Surface-initiated Polymerization and Janus Membrane Synthesis from Graphene and Poly(dopamine)

In dieser Arbeit wurden verschiedene Materialien durch das Pfropfen von Polymerbürsten auf Poly(dopamin) (PDA) und Graphen (G) synthetisiert. Ein besonderes Augenmerk wurde dabei auf sog. strain-engineering von Graphen und Synthese von Janus-Membranen gelegt. Die Kombination aus PDA-Oberflächenchemie und oberflächeninitiierter Cu(0)-vermittelter kontrolliert radikalischer Polymerisation (SI-CuCRP) wurde als robuste und vielseitige Methode zur Synthese von Polymerbürsten etabliert. Dabei können Schichtdicken von einigen hundert Nanometern innerhalb 1 h erreicht werden. Die Zugänglichkeit der Endgruppen bleibt erhalten, was die Synthese von Pentablockcopolymerbürsten ermöglicht. Dies stellt die bis dato höchste Blockzahl für oberflächengebundenes Copolymer dar. Zudem erlaubt die SI-CuCRP eine einfache und hocheffiziente Synthese von Polymerbürsten mit definierten Gradienten und Strukturen sowie die Funktionalisierung von natürlichen Membranen. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wurde diese Methode zur Funktionalisierung von Graphen mit Polymerbürsten angewendet. Aufgrund des hohen sterischen Drucks innerhalb der Bürsten, sollte die resultierende chemisch-mechanische Beanspruchung zu einer Deformation des Graphens und einem straintronic-Effekt führen. Die Bewertung und Quantifizierung der chemisch-mechanisch induzierten Belastung ist jedoch problematisch. Vermutlich führt die induzierte mechanische Spannung zum Bruch bzw. Reißen der Graphenschicht, wenn die Pfropfungsdichte und Schichtdicke der Polymerbürsten zunimmt. Diese Annahme wird durch neueste Literatur gestützt. Dennoch wurde eine ganze Reihe von Polymermodifikationen auf Graphen erhalten, um (gerichtete) Faltenbildung verschiedener Größenordnungen zu erzielen. Im Zusammenhang der Materialsynthese wurden sowohl aus PDA als auch aus Graphen Janus-Membranen, sog. Janus polymer carpets, hergestellt. Hierzu wurde entweder sequentieller Transfer freistehender Polymerteppiche oder einseitige, sequentielle Polymerisation auf Graphen genutzt. Auf diesem Weg wurden Janus-Membranen hergestellt, die hydrophob/hydrophil, nicht-sensitiv/T sensitiv oder nicht sensitiv/pH sensitiv sind oder eine Polymerbürsten/Flaschenbürsten-Architektur besitzen. Diese kann allerdings Reihe auf einfache Weise erweitert werden. Alle hergestellten Janus polymer carpets weisen typischerweise eine Größe von ca. 1 cm² auf. Unter Berücksichtigung ihrer Gesamtdicken, die im Bereich von max. einigen hundert Nanometern liegen, betragen die Aspektverhältnisse zwischen 10000 und 100000. In Kombination mit der strukturellen Vielfalt von Polymerbürsten bieten die vorgestellten Methoden einen einzigartigen Weg zu einer ganzen Palette neuartiger 2D-Materialien mit einstellbaren Eigenschaften. Das hervorragende Faltverhalten von strukturierten Janus polymer carpets macht sie besonders interessant für gerichteten Transport und Bewegung oder kontrollierte Verformung

Anomalous Microwave Surface Resistance of CeCu6

We present surface resistance measurements of the archetypical heavy-fermion compound CeCu6 for frequencies between 3.7 and 18 GHz and temperatures from 1.2 to 6 K. The measurements were performed with superconducting stripline resonators that allow simultaneous measurements at multiple frequencies. The surface resistance of CeCu6 exhibits a pronounced decrease below 3 K, in consistence with dc resistivity. The low-temperature frequency dependence of the surface resistance follows a power law with exponent 2/3. While for conventional metals this would be consistent with the anomalous skin effect, we discuss the present situation of a heavy-fermion metal, where this frequency dependence might instead stem from the influence of electronic correlations.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, proceedings of SCES 201

A note on the depth-from-defocus mechanism of jumping spiders

Jumping spiders are capable of estimating the distance to their prey relying only on the information from one of their main eyes. Recently, it has been shown that jumping spiders perform this estimation based on image defocus cues. In order to gain insight into the mechanisms involved in this blur-to-distance mapping as performed by the spider and to judge whether inspirations can be drawn from spider vision for depth-from-defocus computer vision algorithms, we constructed a three-dimensional (3D) model of the anterior median eye of the Metaphidippus aeneolus, a well studied species of jumping spider. We were able to study images of the environment as the spider would see them and to measure the performances of a well known depth-from-defocus algorithm on this dataset. We found that the algorithm performs best when using images that are averaged over the considerable thickness of the spider's receptor layers, thus pointing towards a possible functional role of the receptor thickness for the spider's depth estimation capabilities

Promoting behavioural change to reduce thermal energy demand in households : a review

A reduction in thermal energy consumption in buildings is vital for achieving the reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that are part of EU-2050 targets. A key challenge faced by behavioural scientists is to understand what encourages people to adopt more efficient ways of achieving a satisfactory thermal experience. We review the psychological barriers to reducing thermal energy demand in the context of energy-efficient technology adoption, and discuss ways these barriers may be overcome. The barriers include: demand on cognitive resources due to decision complexity; tendency to procrastinate and discount future consequences; deferral to simplifying strategies including repeating past experience and copying the behaviour of others; the desire to act in ways that maintain a positive self-image; and inertia due to fear of regret that one's decision might be ‘wrong’. We discuss behavioural approaches to overcome these barriers, such as emphasising public choice of “green” technology, reframing of benefits, simplifying and optimising the choice environment, focusing on symbolic attributes of new technologies, and changing the temporal structure of costs and benefits. We provide a framework of suggestions for future research which together constitute an important first step in informing behaviour change efforts designed to reduce thermal energy consumption in households

Exploring the role of alignability effects in promoting uptake of energy-efficient technologies

The current research applies decision-making theory to the problem of increasing uptake of energy-efficient technologies, where uptake is currently slower than one might predict following rational choice models. We explore the role of alignability effects on consumers’ preference for standard versus energy-efficient technologies. Previous research has found that attentional weight given to alignable or nonalignable features varies depending on the decision context, including between-alternative heterogeneity. In a hypothetical choice task, subjects were presented with a choice between similar (boiler vs. boiler) versus dissimilar (boiler vs. heat pump) home heating technologies, each described by a list of alignable and nonalignable attributes. We found a preference for alignability when options were similar; an effect mediated by an increased tendency to infer missing information is the same. No effects of alignability on preference were found when options differed. We draw theoretical and applied implications for (a) the role of alignability effects in contributing to the energy efficiency gap and (b) the type of information structure best suited for the promotion of energy-efficient technologies in future marketing campaigns

Giants and dwarfs:the multilevel lobbying strategies of national interest organizations

The article addresses the bias in interest representation within the EU by examining the lobbying strategies of national interest organisations within the EU’s multilevel political system. Both our theoretical framework, which includes the determinants of a national interest organisation's decision to act at the EU level, and the data analysis from the INTEREURO Multi-Level Governance Module (MLG) (www.intereuro.eu) reveal three main findings. Firstly, the greatest differentiation among interest organisations (IOs) appears to be between those IOs from the older member states (Germany, the UK and the Netherlands), which exhibit above-average levels of activity, and those from the newer EU member states (Sweden, Slovenia), which exhibit below-average levels of activity. Secondly, the variations in IO activity levels are much greater from country to country than from one policy field to another. Thirdly, although the IOs from all five countries in our study are more likely to employ media and publishing strategies (information politics) than to mobilise their members and supporters (protest politics), we can still observe national patterns in their selection of strategies and in the intensity of their instrumentalisation

Synthesis and NMR Spectroscopic Characterization of Organometallics in the Laboratory of Wolfgang von Philipsborn: Reminiscences of Former Graduate Students

On the occasion of his 80th birthday, former graduate students from the group of Prof. Wolfgang von Philipsborn from the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Zurich, describe from a personal perspective the scientific achievements of his group in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance, mainly applied to transition metals and in the field of organometallic chemistry. Interest in metal chemical shifts is driven by the need to understand reactivity of organometallic compounds in catalysis. Progress in the field is very much related to the technical development of NMR instruments. The range of experiments spans from simple 1D experiments with direct metal detection to 2D NMR experiments, in which metal frequencies are encoded via their attached protons or phosphorous ligands. Other examples come from the structural biology of metal-containing proteins or form the measurement of scalar couplings to quadrupolar nuclei via lineshape analysis. A particular emphasis is presented on how collaborations from various groups at the campus have been fruitful to the scientific progress in the von Philipsborn group. The article also contains a number of personal anecdotes that document life of the graduate students in his group at that time

Impacts of the indoor environment in our homes and schools on child health: A novel analysis using the EU-SILC Database

Today, more than 26 million European children are living in unhealthy homes putting them at higher risk of experiencing health problems. Our research is based on analysis of the Eurostat microdata from the EUwide survey “Income and Living Conditions in Europe” (EU-SILC). The results show that mould and dampness, as well as poor ventilation, can take a child from good health to poor health with links to higher levels of asthma, allergies, eczema, and lower and upper respiratory conditions. Across Europe, the prevalence of children affected by asthma has become an increasing problem in the last few decades. Unhealthy home environments can result in higher absence from school and work, putting a greater strain on both children, parents and the economy. Tackling the unhealthy homes, poor quality schools and day-care centres is an opportunity to improve the health and quality of life of European children.publishedVersio

Exploring the role of normative, financial and environmental information in promoting uptake of energy efficient technologies

The potential of normative and feedback (financial vs. environmental) information in guiding pro-environmental decision-making behaviour was explored in a 2 × 2 (plus control) choice experiment. Using the context of home heating, 599 non-student participants from the UK general public were asked to choose between a standard heating system (a gas boiler) and a relatively more-energy efficient option (a heat pump). In line with evidence for the energy efficiency gap for sustainable innovations, there was low uptake of the heat pump (32.5%) in the control condition where no frame information was provided. Yet, in both conditions where normative information was provided, respondents were significantly more likely (vs. control) to choose the heat pump (financial + norm OR 3.63; 95% CIs 2.13,6.19; environmental + norm OR 3.09; 95% CIs 1.67,4.79), advancing understanding of normative social influence in the context of pro-environmental purchase behaviour. When normative information was not provided, only financial (OR 2.82; 95% CIs 1.67,4.79) but not environmental (OR 1.33; 95% CIs 0.78,2.26), feedback was associated with a significantly greater likelihood of heat pump choice. The main effect of normative information was replicated for behavioural intentions (though only for homeowners), but there was no norm-feedback interaction (regardless of homeownership). The implications for researchers looking to promote ‘green’ choice in the context of new technology adoption are discussed.</p