Heating and Changing BehaviourAngela Murphy/Charlie ActonHASC Sustainability Strategy Team

Heating and Changing Behaviour

Camden Housing Sustainability• Make housing stock energy

efficient• Reduce carbon emissionsBy:• Keeping heat in (insulation)• More effective heat provision• Changing behaviour for

energy efficiency

So that we:• Make warmth affordable

for our residents- to safeguard their health and welfare

Organisations involved…

Heating and Changing Behaviour

Camden Housing Heating Pool• Camden bulk buys gas• 12,000 residents• Charged a flat rate

Problem• No incentive to save energy• Windows open = heat waste• 30% higher consumption• Residents have no control

over what they pay

Heating and Changing Behaviour

Heat Meters•Measure individual consumption for heat and hot water•Pay for what you use

• Camden get better information on heat use• Researchers can calculate the effectiveness

of behavioural interventions

•Residents have more control of their budgets

What’s on the screen?

The techy bit

Resident turns heating on

Energy consumption data transmitted to heat meter and screen in “real time”

Resident can see monitor their energy consumption

Data transmitted wirelessly to the Energy Hive & back

Heat (and Gas) Metering• Combination of individual charging and metering can result in energy

use reductions of up to 30%

CO2 emissions from Kiln Place

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Heating and Changing Behaviour

Behaviour Change Research – Impact of Social Norms

Conventional behaviour change research – assumes:

• People behave rationally x

• People are influenced to change behaviour by relevant factors (like information) only x

Behavioural economics:• Studies impacts of other

factors on decision making• Social, cognitive, emotional • Social norms, priming,

defaults…

However…

• Research conducted at Camden over 15 months

• Looked at the effect of social norms on the energy consumption of residents in 569 metered households

Behaviour Change Research – Impact of Social Norms

• Result - 6% reduction in energy use for the social norms groups over the 15 month period

Successes :• 6% cut in consumption for £3 per resident cost• Collaborative work with academic institutions• Invested interest of EU – the Internet of Things• Understanding of behaviours & more

knowledge of heating diagnostics

Shortcomings:• What next ? Utilising the data –who ?• Resources required• Strategic fit – making connections

Barriers:

•Introducing change•Doing this in the public arena•Time, people, doing it well•Problems with existing heating systemsEnablers :•Camden council - forward thinking•GLA – the Mayor’s funding•Academic investment / supportFuture:•Continue to explore opportunities•Opportunities for research (IoT, behaviour change)