Household energy expenses can be reduced, according to research findings.

Household energy expenses can be reduced, according to research findings.

It's no secret that millions of people worldwide grapple with energy poverty, spending a substantial chunk of their income on energy costs. But, as MIT researchers have proven with a unique experiment in Amsterdam, providing households with valuable data about their energy usage and some advice can lead to a significant reduction in energy consumption and costs.

In this experiment, a staggering 50% decrease in energy expenses was observed across participating households, releasing them from energy poverty. Co-author of the study, Joseph Llewellyn, from MIT's Senseable City Lab, shared that their energy coaching project boasted a success rate of 75% in alleviating energy poverty.

The research, published in Nature Scientific Reports, has shown that energy coaching, combined with smart technology interventions, can bring about a tangible difference in the fight against energy poverty. The project was a collaboration between MIT Senseable City Lab, the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS), and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

While this approach is by no means a cure-all for energy poverty, it offers a promising direction. City officials in Amsterdam initially engaged the researchers in designing the experiment. In the Netherlands, around 550,000 households – 7% of the population – grapple with energy poverty, while the number in the European Union is approximately 50 million. In the U.S., findings from separate research suggest that about three in ten households struggle to meet their energy bills.

Two versions of an energy coaching intervention were carried out as part of the experiment. In one, 67 households received a single report on their energy usage along with advice on increasing energy efficiency. In the other, 50 households received comparable access to real-time updates on their energy consumption via smart devices, in addition to the report and coaching. All households also received preliminary energy-saving improvements, such as additional insulation.

The results were impressive, with participating households reducing their average electricity consumption by 33% and gas consumption by 42%. Energy bills dropped by 53% overall, and the percentage of household income spent on energy dropped from 10.1% to 5.3%. Factors such as only heating used rooms and unplugging devices when not in use contributed to these substantial savings, although understanding the benefits of these measures was previously not well-known among residents.

Homes receiving smart devices displayed real-time energy data for three to four weeks, after which interest in constant monitoring seemed to wane. However, even a few weeks of monitoring appeared to be sufficient to encourage households to change their behavior in lasting ways.

"Our research suggests that smart devices need to be supplemented by a profound understanding of what drives families to change their behavior," explains Titus Venverloo, a research fellow at MIT Senseable City Lab and AMS.

Authorities aiming to tackle energy poverty must consider a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond energy coaching and relies on additional factors such as lower energy prices, more energy-efficient buildings, and incentives for renewable energy and efficient technologies. Government policies and local initiatives play an integral role in improving energy access and affordability for vulnerable populations.

The research team is currently conducting a new experiment with Amsterdam officials, examining the benefits of retrofitting residential buildings to lower energy costs while ensuring that landlords do not pass the costs on to tenants, as this could merely displace expenses from one item to another. Additionally, households can invest in solutions like insulation and energy-efficient appliances, but this may not always be financially feasible for lower-income households, especially when compared to covering basic necessities like food and clothing.

In summary, energy coaching with smart technology offers a promising solution to alleviating energy poverty and reducing energy costs. However, comprehensive policy support, technological developments, urban planning, and community engagement are equally crucial components in achieving a sustainable energy future for all.

1. The study, published in Nature Scientific Reports and led by MIT's Senseable City Lab, demonstrates that energy coaching combined with smart technology can significantly reduce energy poverty.
2. The energy coaching project, a collaboration with the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS) and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, showed a success rate of 75% in alleviating energy poverty.
3. In the experiment, households that received real-time updates on their energy consumption via smart devices, along with reports and coaching, reduced their average electricity consumption by 33% and gas consumption by 42%.
4. Based on the findings, authorities must consider a comprehensive strategy to tackle energy poverty which includes lower energy prices, more energy-efficient buildings, and incentives for renewable energy and efficient technologies.
5. The research team is currently examining the benefits of retrofitting residential buildings to lower energy costs, ensuring that tenants are not burdened with the additional costs, and investigating financial solutions for lower-income households to invest in energy-saving solutions like insulation and energy-efficient appliances.

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