- Lower Carbon Futures Group
Environmental Change Institute
Oxford University Centre for the Environment
South Parks Road
Oxford, OX1 3QY - +44 (0) 7429 621 611
Rebecca Ford
University of Oxford, Environmental Change Institute, Department Member
- University of Otago, Centre for Sustainability, Department Memberadd
- I am a multi-disciplinary scholar whose research focuses on energy challenges and transitions for a sustainable futur... moreI am a multi-disciplinary scholar whose research focuses on energy challenges and transitions for a sustainable future, the role of different agents in creating change, and the implications and opportunities for new business models, existing and new infrastructure, and shifts in societal energy culture. I am interested in how people interact with energy systems, and how social science and technological insights can be co-developed to better inform policy related to resource efficiency, carbon emissions, energy development and resilience. I recently served as Deputy Director of the Centre for Sustainability at the University of Otago, New Zealand, but returned to the UK to manage the University of Oxford's seminal research programme on integrating renewable energy.
I was awarded a DPhil in Engineering from the University of Oxford in 2010, and since completing my studies I have broadened my knowledge and extended my scope of research through subsequent academic appointments across three different divisions (commerce, science, and humanities) as well as through collaborative work with researchers from a range of disciplines both within New Zealand and internationally. Both the skills I honed in my engineering training, as well as those acquired in subsequent academic positions – including expertise in research design, development, evaluation, and management – have proved extremely valuable for planning research programmes and managing large multi-disciplinary teams.
I am highly motivated and committed to continuing research excellence, both through further developing my own research agenda, as well as convening and leading multi-disciplinary research teams capable of tackling some of our most pressing issues around energy and the environment.edit
This report reviews the range of Home Energy Management (HEMS) products that are currently on the market, assesses current knowledge on savings and adoption potential, and suggests key considerations for future research and practice. It... more
This report reviews the range of Home Energy Management (HEMS) products that are currently on the market, assesses current knowledge on savings and adoption potential, and suggests key considerations for future research and practice. It was produced for Pacific Gas and Electric in order to help inform the development of current and future programs for the utility. The report specifically aims to address the following four questions:
1. What are the key functionalities and characteristics of Home Energy Management?
2. What are the key HEM products in the market, and how do you differentiate them?
3. What is current knowledge on energy savings and adoption potential for HEMS?
4. What are some key considerations for the future of HEMS, and what is the utility’s role?
In Chapter 2 the methods used to answer these research questions are discussed. In Chapter 3 the functionalities and characteristics of HEM technologies are discussed, and Chapter 4 outlines actual HEM products on the market and describes them in terms of 11 primary product categories. Chapter 5 presents secondary analysis of the savings potential of HEM technologies, and Chapter 6 addresses what is known and not known regarding near-term adoption potential of HEMS. Chapter 7 provides conclusions and recommendations regarding the uptake and impact of HEMS in California.
As HEM technologies become increasingly ubiquitous, with a growing capacity to leverage personalized energy information, there is an urgency to ensure that they are utilized to their full potential. As a whole, this report aims to extend what is known about HEMS and to make suggestions for future research.
1. What are the key functionalities and characteristics of Home Energy Management?
2. What are the key HEM products in the market, and how do you differentiate them?
3. What is current knowledge on energy savings and adoption potential for HEMS?
4. What are some key considerations for the future of HEMS, and what is the utility’s role?
In Chapter 2 the methods used to answer these research questions are discussed. In Chapter 3 the functionalities and characteristics of HEM technologies are discussed, and Chapter 4 outlines actual HEM products on the market and describes them in terms of 11 primary product categories. Chapter 5 presents secondary analysis of the savings potential of HEM technologies, and Chapter 6 addresses what is known and not known regarding near-term adoption potential of HEMS. Chapter 7 provides conclusions and recommendations regarding the uptake and impact of HEMS in California.
As HEM technologies become increasingly ubiquitous, with a growing capacity to leverage personalized energy information, there is an urgency to ensure that they are utilized to their full potential. As a whole, this report aims to extend what is known about HEMS and to make suggestions for future research.
Home Energy Management (HEM) offers the potential to help manage peak electricity demand and network constraints – crucial for efficient infrastructure – yet to date is underdeveloped in New Zealand. This presentation provides an overview... more
Home Energy Management (HEM) offers the potential to help manage peak electricity demand and network constraints – crucial for efficient infrastructure – yet to date is underdeveloped in New Zealand. This presentation provides an overview of current and future HEM capabilities, and some of the factors that might affect uptake of such systems in New Zealand. Four key characteristics of HEM systems are identified and used to guide data collection about HEM technologies currently on the market, which are shown to break into 8 different groupings based on their energy management capabilities. These systems offer demand management through feedback and behaviour prompts, remote control, demand response, and scheduling. Additionally, emerging technologies point to a new wave of HEM systems that better leverage smart grid infrastructure. However, uptake and use of such technologies is not guaranteed, and we discuss factors that may influence the success of home energy management.
Research Interests:
Feedback is a promising strategy for energy conservation, and many energy feedback products (i.e. technologies with hardware) and platforms (i.e. technologies without hardware) have emerged on the market in recent years. Past research... more
Feedback is a promising strategy for energy conservation, and many energy feedback products (i.e. technologies with hardware) and platforms (i.e. technologies without hardware) have emerged on the market in recent years. Past research suggests that the effective- ness of feedback varies based on distinct characteristics, and proposes categories to better understand and distinguish between these characteristics. A review of existing categories, however, identified the following issues: (1) current structures group feedback technologies into four (or fewer) categories, making device distinction and selection onerous; (2) current categories often ignore technical and psychological distinctions of interest to researchers; and (3) none provide a systematic description of the specific characteristics that vary by category. This paper presents a classification structure of feedback technology, derived theoretically from a review of relevant literature and empirically via content analysis of 196 devices. A taxonomy structure of feedback technology was derived based on the characteristics of hard- ware, communications, control, display, and data collection. The resulting taxonomy included the following nine categories: (1) information platform, (2) management platform, (3) appliance monitor, (4) load monitor, (5) grid display, (6) sensor display, (7) networked sensor, (8) closed management network, and (9) open management network. These categories are mutual exclusive and exhaustive of the identified technologies collected and are based on characteristics, which are both stable and important to feedback provision. It is hoped that this feedback classification will be of use to both researchers and practitioners trying to leverage the potential of these technologies for energy conservation.
Research Interests:
New Zealand’s electricity infrastructure was designed to support the flow of energy from large centralised power stations toward end users, including households and businesses. However, a shift to a more distributed supply may be... more
New Zealand’s electricity infrastructure was designed to support the flow of energy from large centralised power stations toward end users, including households and businesses. However, a shift to a more distributed supply may be beginning with the growing interest in small-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar generation. In the last 2 years alone the quantity of grid-connected small-scale PV systems in NZ has grown by at least 330%. . Although PV installations to date are relatively few, such that the current installed capacity is about one-tenth that of Meridian’s West Wind power station near Wellington, a continuation of the growth that can be seen in this market (Figure 1) could have substantial impact.
While the current installed PV capacity per capita is still relatively low compared to some other countries3 (most likely due to the subsidies through attractive feed-in tariffs), the rate of uptake is of great interest given the absence of Government incentives for small-scale PV installations, along with the relatively high cost to implement4. It is important to understand the drivers of PV uptake (i.e. the reasons for the rapid increase in PV installations), and whether PV is likely to remain niche or become even more widespread.
To investigate these issues we have undertaken three separate research streams. We have carried out interviews5 with people who have already purchased (or who have a strong interest to purchase) PV systems both nationally (20 people) and within Blueskin Bay (18 people), a small region of the country with relatively high interest in PV. We have run an online questionnaire and choice modelling experiment6 with 2000 people (1000 of whom we questioned about PV), and we have responses to a national household energy survey of 2700 households around New Zealand. This report draws from all three studies to provide an update of our high-level findings to date. This is an early-stage report and further detailed analysis and reporting will follow.
While the current installed PV capacity per capita is still relatively low compared to some other countries3 (most likely due to the subsidies through attractive feed-in tariffs), the rate of uptake is of great interest given the absence of Government incentives for small-scale PV installations, along with the relatively high cost to implement4. It is important to understand the drivers of PV uptake (i.e. the reasons for the rapid increase in PV installations), and whether PV is likely to remain niche or become even more widespread.
To investigate these issues we have undertaken three separate research streams. We have carried out interviews5 with people who have already purchased (or who have a strong interest to purchase) PV systems both nationally (20 people) and within Blueskin Bay (18 people), a small region of the country with relatively high interest in PV. We have run an online questionnaire and choice modelling experiment6 with 2000 people (1000 of whom we questioned about PV), and we have responses to a national household energy survey of 2700 households around New Zealand. This report draws from all three studies to provide an update of our high-level findings to date. This is an early-stage report and further detailed analysis and reporting will follow.
Research Interests:
• Householders in the Blueskin area near Dunedin show a strong interest in installing PV. To explore the reasons for this interest, eighteen interviews were undertaken in late 2013 with people who had either installed PV or were... more
• Householders in the Blueskin area near Dunedin show a strong interest in installing PV. To explore the reasons for this interest, eighteen interviews were undertaken in late 2013 with people who had either installed PV or were interested in doing so. Four interviews were also held with people involved in supporting the community’s
energy initiatives.
• Analysis of the interviews was aided by two theories – Rogers’ model of technology adoption, and the Energy Cultures Framework, which describes an individuals’ “energy culture” according to their material culture (i.e. the physical things they have or own), their practices (i.e. what they do with their energy related technologies) and their norms (i.e. what their think about these energy related technologies and issues).
• The ‘energy culture’ displayed by interviewees typically had the following characteristics:
- Material culture – home ownership, building and site suited to PV
- Practices – already use energy carefully, sustainable living, energy literacy, actively seeking information on PV, and (for some) technological competence
- Norms – support for solar energy, desire for partial or full independence from the electricity grid, desire for greater financial control, lack of trust in power companies, confidence in the technology, environmental concern, perceived long-term financial benefits of PV
• The interviewees fell into two main clusters in how they sought information about PV.
- ‘Hunters’ actively sought technical information from a wide variety of external sources
- ‘Gatherers’ tended to rely on ‘hunters’ and other local sources for their information.
• External influences that were driving interest in PV included: the improving affordability of PV units, the rising cost of electricity, the cost of grid connection for new builds, increasing visibility of PV, information sharing within community networks, availability of tradespeople with skills in PV installation, and overseas experience in seeing PV more widely used. Influences that related specifically to the activities of the Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust (BRCT) included: facilitating supplier/installer relationships, providing an information source about PV, building energy literacy, and helping develop technical skills.
• The main barrier to uptake was the upfront cost of investing in PV. A few mentioned the lack of financial incentives (e.g. subsidies) and the speed of technological development and dropping prices, meaning they were unsure if they should wait a bit longer to invest.
• Motivations for adoption included perceived financial control and long-term benefits; enabling a degree of independence from power companies and rising electricity prices; interest in the technology for its own sake; and environmental concern.
• A key finding of the research was that the activities of the BRCT, together with other initiatives by community members, initiated or supported enablers that reduce the barriers to uptake. These included collaboration to reduce the costs of purchase and installation, provision of information and advice, building energy literacy, enhancing technological competence, and support from social networks.
energy initiatives.
• Analysis of the interviews was aided by two theories – Rogers’ model of technology adoption, and the Energy Cultures Framework, which describes an individuals’ “energy culture” according to their material culture (i.e. the physical things they have or own), their practices (i.e. what they do with their energy related technologies) and their norms (i.e. what their think about these energy related technologies and issues).
• The ‘energy culture’ displayed by interviewees typically had the following characteristics:
- Material culture – home ownership, building and site suited to PV
- Practices – already use energy carefully, sustainable living, energy literacy, actively seeking information on PV, and (for some) technological competence
- Norms – support for solar energy, desire for partial or full independence from the electricity grid, desire for greater financial control, lack of trust in power companies, confidence in the technology, environmental concern, perceived long-term financial benefits of PV
• The interviewees fell into two main clusters in how they sought information about PV.
- ‘Hunters’ actively sought technical information from a wide variety of external sources
- ‘Gatherers’ tended to rely on ‘hunters’ and other local sources for their information.
• External influences that were driving interest in PV included: the improving affordability of PV units, the rising cost of electricity, the cost of grid connection for new builds, increasing visibility of PV, information sharing within community networks, availability of tradespeople with skills in PV installation, and overseas experience in seeing PV more widely used. Influences that related specifically to the activities of the Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust (BRCT) included: facilitating supplier/installer relationships, providing an information source about PV, building energy literacy, and helping develop technical skills.
• The main barrier to uptake was the upfront cost of investing in PV. A few mentioned the lack of financial incentives (e.g. subsidies) and the speed of technological development and dropping prices, meaning they were unsure if they should wait a bit longer to invest.
• Motivations for adoption included perceived financial control and long-term benefits; enabling a degree of independence from power companies and rising electricity prices; interest in the technology for its own sake; and environmental concern.
• A key finding of the research was that the activities of the BRCT, together with other initiatives by community members, initiated or supported enablers that reduce the barriers to uptake. These included collaboration to reduce the costs of purchase and installation, provision of information and advice, building energy literacy, enhancing technological competence, and support from social networks.
Research Interests:
This paper introduces Suricatta, a platform to model the power demand of a network of dwellings that accounts for the physical infrastructure connecting them, allowing demand from one dwelling to influence in real time demand from others.... more
This paper introduces Suricatta, a platform to model the power demand of a network of dwellings that accounts for the physical infrastructure connecting them, allowing demand from one dwelling to influence in real time demand from others. The demand of each dwelling is determined by aggregating the demand of individual appliances, enabling the potential impact of demand side management (DSM) to be investigated at both the grid and household level. Data requirements to construct the model are discussed, and a case study evaluating demand of a network of homes is presented. Results show Suricatta performs well against Elexion class 1 power simulations, and is particularly valuable for high frequency and DSM applications.
Research Interests:
Low-income houses in South Africa are supplied with a pre-payment meter and a circuit breaker that trips at a low power level (about 20A, 4.5kW), resulting in many nuisance trips. Four categories of audio cues, each being able to... more
Low-income houses in South Africa are supplied with a pre-payment meter and a circuit breaker that trips at a low power level (about 20A, 4.5kW), resulting in many nuisance trips. Four categories of audio cues, each being able to represent five levels of power consumption, are assessed. A survey of 62 people was conducted. The numerical analysis of the results and the perceptions of the respondents both indicate that the use of changing tempo and texture is the most effective at conveying feedback information on the power consumption in the home.
Research Interests:
Behaviour-based energy interventions (i.e., programmes targeting savings through consumer energy use) are based on the idea that people can be encouraged to use less energy if the underlying determinants of behaviour change in some way.... more
Behaviour-based energy interventions (i.e., programmes targeting savings through consumer energy use) are based on the idea that people can be encouraged to use less energy if the underlying determinants of behaviour change in some way. Research on such programmes suggests potential savings, but results vary and much is still unknown about the specific variables that impact programme effectiveness. This is due in part to the way these programmes are typically evaluated.
Most energy efficiency evaluations use changes in the amount of energy consumed (measured in kWh) as the dependent variable for determining effectiveness. Although this is an ideal measure of
whether energy efficiency interventions work, additional information could add significantly to our understanding about how and for whom they work. Recent efforts have been made to include such information and more and more studies are now collecting self-reported data from participants in order to better understand how and for whom behaviour-based energy interventions work.
However, widespread agreement on what data to collect and how to collect it is still lacking. Such standardisation is common in related fields such as education and psychology, but has yet to take hold in energy programme evaluation. The development of consistent, validated measures would improve our overall ability to account for variation in treatment effects and improve programme functioning and delivery.
As such, the current report presents a methodological review of behaviour-based energy intervention studies in the customer feedback and residential building retrofit areas, which were
conducted over the past 10 years to determine what data has been collected and how it has been collected. This review will form the basis of further work undertaken by the study authors and for
Subtask 9 of the IEA DSM Task 24 extension (Phase II – see www.ieadsm.org/task/task-24-phase-2/).
The work presented here suggests that future research should evaluate programmes using standardised measures across a range of key variables. The use of standard measures would
enable cross-comparisons to be made across different studies, and the incorporation of questions about context, behaviours, attitudes, knowledge, and user experience would provide researchers with insights into a richer understanding of how and for whom different behaviour-based interventions work best. Ultimately, this should result in more streamlined and effective
programmes that are targeted appropriately for different audiences.
In addition, studies would do well to make better use of mixed methods for data collection. Only 26 of the 85 studies reviewed here used interviews to collect data, with 9 studies running focus
groups. This type of data collection allows for triangulation, which can be helpful when trying to get deeper insights into the holistic impacts of behaviour-based energy interventions.
Finally, we recommend that study authors provide better transparency in the methods they use. With only 4 of the 85 studies publishing their actual evaluation instrument, it is not possible for researchers to refer to and build upon instruments that have already been developed. Creating and sharing validated data collection instruments would facilitate a consistency of measurement that could be implemented across the countless additional studies expected to be conducted in the coming years. Such consistency an improve and aggregate our overall knowledge across studies.
Most energy efficiency evaluations use changes in the amount of energy consumed (measured in kWh) as the dependent variable for determining effectiveness. Although this is an ideal measure of
whether energy efficiency interventions work, additional information could add significantly to our understanding about how and for whom they work. Recent efforts have been made to include such information and more and more studies are now collecting self-reported data from participants in order to better understand how and for whom behaviour-based energy interventions work.
However, widespread agreement on what data to collect and how to collect it is still lacking. Such standardisation is common in related fields such as education and psychology, but has yet to take hold in energy programme evaluation. The development of consistent, validated measures would improve our overall ability to account for variation in treatment effects and improve programme functioning and delivery.
As such, the current report presents a methodological review of behaviour-based energy intervention studies in the customer feedback and residential building retrofit areas, which were
conducted over the past 10 years to determine what data has been collected and how it has been collected. This review will form the basis of further work undertaken by the study authors and for
Subtask 9 of the IEA DSM Task 24 extension (Phase II – see www.ieadsm.org/task/task-24-phase-2/).
The work presented here suggests that future research should evaluate programmes using standardised measures across a range of key variables. The use of standard measures would
enable cross-comparisons to be made across different studies, and the incorporation of questions about context, behaviours, attitudes, knowledge, and user experience would provide researchers with insights into a richer understanding of how and for whom different behaviour-based interventions work best. Ultimately, this should result in more streamlined and effective
programmes that are targeted appropriately for different audiences.
In addition, studies would do well to make better use of mixed methods for data collection. Only 26 of the 85 studies reviewed here used interviews to collect data, with 9 studies running focus
groups. This type of data collection allows for triangulation, which can be helpful when trying to get deeper insights into the holistic impacts of behaviour-based energy interventions.
Finally, we recommend that study authors provide better transparency in the methods they use. With only 4 of the 85 studies publishing their actual evaluation instrument, it is not possible for researchers to refer to and build upon instruments that have already been developed. Creating and sharing validated data collection instruments would facilitate a consistency of measurement that could be implemented across the countless additional studies expected to be conducted in the coming years. Such consistency an improve and aggregate our overall knowledge across studies.
Research Interests:
While research assessing behavior-based energy interventions shows great promise, results vary widely and much is still unknown about the specific variables that impact program effectiveness. As utilities and regulatory agencies focus... more
While research assessing behavior-based energy interventions shows great promise, results vary widely and much is still unknown about the specific variables that impact program effectiveness. As utilities and regulatory agencies focus more attention on behavior-based energy interventions, it becomes critical to ensure that evaluations of such programs are rigorous and accurate. While the metric used to measure whether these various programs work (kWh) is fairly standard and easy to compare between studies, the metrics used to measure how and for whom they work have been left to individual researchers and evaluators. Standardization of assessment methods is common in related fields such as education and psychology, but has yet to take hold in energy program evaluation. This paper argues for a more systematic and comprehensive approach to the evaluation of behavior-based energy interventions, and describes a preliminary toolkit that is currently being developed and validated in conjunction with the International Energy Agency Demand Side Management Programme (IEA-DSM) Task 24 on Behavior Change as well as two large investor-owned utilities. Our approach is informed by theories and empirical research on behavior change as well as a content analysis of 85 behavior-based energy interventions. It includes questions on: context (demographics), user experience (ease of use, engagement), material culture (what people have), energy practices (what people do), and beliefs around energy use (what people think). Sample items for each construct and suggestions for implementation are presented. Broad use of such an instrument can improve and aggregate our overall knowledge across the countless additional studies expected to be conducted in the coming years.
The energy cultures framework was developed in 2009 to support interdisciplinary investigation into energy behaviour in New Zealand. In this paper, we discuss the framework in light of 5 years of empirical application and conceptual... more
The energy cultures framework was developed in 2009 to support interdisciplinary investigation into energy behaviour in New Zealand. In this paper, we discuss the framework in light of 5 years of empirical application and conceptual development. The concept of culture is helpful in seeking to better understand energy behaviour because it conveys how behaviours are embedded within the physical and social contexts of everyday life, and how they are both repetitive and heterogeneous. The framework suggests that the energy culture of a given subject (e.g. an individual, a household, a business, a sector) can be studied by examining the interrelationships between their norms, practices and material culture, and how these, in turn, are shaped by external influences. We discuss the key theoretical influences of the framework, and how the core concepts of the framework have evolved as we have applied them in different research situations. We then illustrate how we have applied the framework to a range of topics and sectors, and how it has been used to support interdisciplinary research, in identifying clusters of energy cultures, in examining energy cultures at different scales and in different sectors, and to inform policy development.
Research Interests:
Lighting Vanuatu began in 2010 as a two-year project funded through The Australian Aid - Governance for Growth Programme. The primary objective of the project was to increase access of portable solar lanterns for rural Vanuatu communities... more
Lighting Vanuatu began in 2010 as a two-year project funded through The Australian Aid - Governance for Growth Programme. The primary objective of the project was to increase access of portable solar lanterns for rural Vanuatu communities in an effort to reduce their dependency on kerosene as the primary source of household lighting. To achieve this goal the project offered a supply-side subsidy for two Vanuatu NGOs (ACTIV and VANREPA) to support the distribution of 24, 000 solar lamps mainly to rural areas. The subsidy was aimed at improving bulk purchasing power by the NGO’s in an effort to reduce the price of the imported solar lights at the household level.
The analysis of the Independent Completion Review (ICR), Business Case Study (Annex 1), and the Survey Data Overview (Annex 3) indicate that the Lighting Vanuatu project has been successful in enabling the uptake and awareness of portable solar lighting products. These reports highlight that the transition from kerosene lamps to solar throughout the islands of Vanuatu was both clear and ubiquitous. When framed at this descriptive level, the project certainly presents a good news story for renewable energy.
The rapid transformation from a non-renewable to a renewable source of lighting within a 2 to 3 year period runs counter to many of the discussions in developed countries who struggle to disrupt the locked-in energy systems that sustain and maintain a reliance on fossil fuels. Considered alongside the slow and politically infused renewable energy debates in the developed country context, Vanuatu’s rapid adoption of portable solar lighting is precisely the kind of transitional story that many communities could only dream of achieving. However, the successful or unsuccessful acquisition and diffusion of a particular piece of technology – portable solar lamps – is only part of the story.
The initial aim of the Independent Completion Review (ICR) was to identify the degree of adoption and contribution made by Lighting Vanuatu, any geographic, social or cultural trends evident in adoption patterns, any economic or social benefits, specific changes in the lighting technology used by households, changes in household practices associated with any shift in technology, and changes in householders’ perceived needs and aspirations with regard to lighting. While this descriptive analysis is essential for evaluating the success of the programme within its own terms (i.e. the ICR), the broader cultural, economic and political implications of this technological diffusion have yet to be addressed. The purpose of Annex 2, therefore, is to develop the Lighting Vanuatu story further by offering a more nuanced interpretation of the transition from kerosene to portable solar lights in rural Vanuatu communities; our emphasis and focus is different to that of the ICR, but complements and enhances the understanding of Lighting Vanuatu as an aid project.
We begin by outlining the methodology used to gather and interpret the information that informs this report. We then draw on the Energy Cultures Framework (Stephenson et al., 2010) as an organising structure for describing Vanuatu’s prevailing energy culture. Next, we address four key debates to emerge from the fieldwork with the hope of encouraging a reflection on the shifting social norms and practices (economic and political) that are also ‘diffused’ with the introduction of a new piece of material culture like the portable solar lamps. The annex concludes with a comment on the implications of this analysis for future energy-related development projects in Vanuatu.
The analysis of the Independent Completion Review (ICR), Business Case Study (Annex 1), and the Survey Data Overview (Annex 3) indicate that the Lighting Vanuatu project has been successful in enabling the uptake and awareness of portable solar lighting products. These reports highlight that the transition from kerosene lamps to solar throughout the islands of Vanuatu was both clear and ubiquitous. When framed at this descriptive level, the project certainly presents a good news story for renewable energy.
The rapid transformation from a non-renewable to a renewable source of lighting within a 2 to 3 year period runs counter to many of the discussions in developed countries who struggle to disrupt the locked-in energy systems that sustain and maintain a reliance on fossil fuels. Considered alongside the slow and politically infused renewable energy debates in the developed country context, Vanuatu’s rapid adoption of portable solar lighting is precisely the kind of transitional story that many communities could only dream of achieving. However, the successful or unsuccessful acquisition and diffusion of a particular piece of technology – portable solar lamps – is only part of the story.
The initial aim of the Independent Completion Review (ICR) was to identify the degree of adoption and contribution made by Lighting Vanuatu, any geographic, social or cultural trends evident in adoption patterns, any economic or social benefits, specific changes in the lighting technology used by households, changes in household practices associated with any shift in technology, and changes in householders’ perceived needs and aspirations with regard to lighting. While this descriptive analysis is essential for evaluating the success of the programme within its own terms (i.e. the ICR), the broader cultural, economic and political implications of this technological diffusion have yet to be addressed. The purpose of Annex 2, therefore, is to develop the Lighting Vanuatu story further by offering a more nuanced interpretation of the transition from kerosene to portable solar lights in rural Vanuatu communities; our emphasis and focus is different to that of the ICR, but complements and enhances the understanding of Lighting Vanuatu as an aid project.
We begin by outlining the methodology used to gather and interpret the information that informs this report. We then draw on the Energy Cultures Framework (Stephenson et al., 2010) as an organising structure for describing Vanuatu’s prevailing energy culture. Next, we address four key debates to emerge from the fieldwork with the hope of encouraging a reflection on the shifting social norms and practices (economic and political) that are also ‘diffused’ with the introduction of a new piece of material culture like the portable solar lamps. The annex concludes with a comment on the implications of this analysis for future energy-related development projects in Vanuatu.
Research Interests:
This research presents a new web-based application, called Personalised Energy Priorities (PEP), that provides households with personalised and tailored advice on practices or technologies they might adopt to improve the energy efficiency... more
This research presents a new web-based application, called Personalised Energy Priorities (PEP), that provides households with personalised and tailored advice on practices or technologies they might adopt to improve the energy efficiency of their home. PEP proceeds in a manner similar to an online energy audit, but combines a user centric design approach with relatively new choice modelling software that allows recommendations to be tailored to individual preferences. The tool also provides links to further information about each energy recommendation, creating a more successful, one-stop-shop for persuasion.
Research Interests:
he Energy Cultures research project (2009-2012) was planned to help inform policy making related to residential energy use and energy efficiency in New Zealand. It sought, in part, to help address the difficulties faced by government... more
he Energy Cultures research project (2009-2012) was planned to help inform policy making related to residential energy use and energy efficiency in New Zealand. It sought, in part, to help address the difficulties faced by government agencies in achieving the economically viable potential for residential electricity savings. In particular, the project set out to examine household energy behaviour in relation to space heating and hot water heating, which together account for around 60% of household energy use. The programme was designed as a number of discrete research projects, linked together by the Energy Cultures conceptual framework. This report presents the policy implications of the multiple findings of that research.
Research Interests:
Psychological research indicates that the provision of feedback is a key element in reinforcing and/or changing behavior, and whilst results from empirical studies on eco-feedback are positive, variation in findings suggests that its... more
Psychological research indicates that the provision of feedback is a key element in reinforcing and/or changing behavior, and whilst results from empirical studies on eco-feedback are positive, variation in findings suggests that its effectiveness may depend on both what information is provided and how it is presented. The design of graphical displays is an important component, but past display research has been primarily qualitative and exploratory. This paper introduces and tests a cognitive model of visual information processing applied to eco-feedback to evaluate differences in interpretation and preference between images. Participants were shown images that varied by number of data points as well as display features and were asked to interpret the images and report on image usability. Findings support the cognitive model, suggesting that eco- feedback displays appear to be more successful when they: (1) contain fewer data points; (2) employ data chunking; and/or (3) include pictures.
Research Interests:
This paper proposes and tests the Usability Perception Scale (UPscale), developed to evaluate the perceived usability of eco-feedback. This tool builds on previous system usability scales and includes sub-scales for ease of use and... more
This paper proposes and tests the Usability Perception Scale (UPscale), developed to evaluate the perceived usability of eco-feedback. This tool builds on previous system usability scales and includes sub-scales for ease of use and engagement. The scale was tested via an online survey of 1103 US residents. Factor analysis supported a two-factor solution, supporting subscales for ease of use and engagement. Reliability tests revealed high levels of internal consistency for the overall scale and both subscales. A test of criterion validity with behavioral intention found significant correlations with both subscales, suggesting that usability is a key mediator for behavior change. Finally, ANOVA results found differences between randomly assigned images, suggesting the scale has sufficient sensitivity for use in experimental research. Future research is suggested to test abbreviated versions as well as to further assess this scale with actual behavioral pilot studies.
Research Interests:
Understanding the potential growth of EVs in the New Zealand market is of great interest to a wide range of stakeholders. Aside from the direct impact on the new and used car markets, it could also reduce NZ’s dependence on oil imports,... more
Understanding the potential growth of EVs in the New Zealand market is of great interest to a wide range of stakeholders. Aside from the direct impact on the new and used car markets, it could also reduce NZ’s dependence on oil imports, increase demand for electricity, and offer new opportunities for managing electricity demand in distribution networks. It is important for businesses, the energy sector, and national and local governments to be able to plan for EV uptake. This report provides insights into Kiwi appetite for EVs and barriers to uptake.
Research Interests:
As concerns about energy security and green house gas emissions become more pronounces, establishing an energy-efficient low-carbon transport system has increasingly become a priority for businesses, government and communities. This... more
As concerns about energy security and green house gas emissions become more pronounces, establishing an energy-efficient low-carbon transport system has increasingly become a priority for businesses, government and communities.
This report sets out to discover the range of agents conducting transport initiatives aligned with these goals, and how their actions might relate to more widespread transition of the transport system.
This report sets out to discover the range of agents conducting transport initiatives aligned with these goals, and how their actions might relate to more widespread transition of the transport system.