Human Behavior and Intelligent Energy Metering Systems: Experimental Approaches

The use of field experiments and randomized controlled trials offer rich sources of inquiry to uncover causal mechanisms in the social and behavioral sciences. When these approaches are further integrated with the latest advances in engineering and information technologies, the result is an integrated research agenda that can shape new directions for innovation, science and public policy. This dissertation combines three essays on the use of experimental methods in the study human decision making with advanced technologies. The focus of this work is on demand side innovation for energy efficiency and conservation. We engage both business and residential consumers in energy efficiency and conservation decisions, using information-based strategies, smart metering technologies, and finally grand challenges as a policy mechanism. We investigate how information changes the behavior of consumers, households and firms, advancing the literature on non-monetary incentives for behavior change and making theoretical advances on altruistic motivations for energy conservation behavior

The dynamics of behavior change: Evidence from energy conservation

Little is known about the effect of message framing on conservation behavior over time. In a randomized controlled trial with residential households, we use advanced metering and information technologies to test how different messages about household energy use impact the dynamics of conservation behavior down to the appliance level. Our results, based on 374million panel observations of kilowatt-hour (kWh) electricity consumption for 118 households over 9 months, show that differences in behavioral responses due to message framing become more significant over time. We find that a health-based frame, in which households consider the human health effects of their marginal electricity use, induced persistent energy savings behavior of 8–10% over 100 days; whereas a more traditional cost savings frame, drove sharp attenuation of treatment effects after 2 weeks with no significant savings versus control after 7 weeks. We discuss implications for the design of effective information campaigns to engage households in conservation behavior

The dynamics of behavior change: Evidence from energy conservation

Little is known about the effect of message framing on conservation behavior over time. In a randomized controlled trial with residential households, we use advanced metering and information technologies to test how different messages about household energy use impact the dynamics of conservation behavior down to the appliance level. Our results, based on 374million panel observations of kilowatt-hour (kWh) electricity consumption for 118 households over 9 months, show that differences in behavioral responses due to message framing become more significant over time. We find that a health-based frame, in which households consider the human health effects of their marginal electricity use, induced persistent energy savings behavior of 8–10% over 100 days; whereas a more traditional cost savings frame, drove sharp attenuation of treatment effects after 2 weeks with no significant savings versus control after 7 weeks. We discuss implications for the design of effective information campaigns to engage households in conservation behavior