A Review of Behavioral Energy Reduction Programs and Implementation of a Pilot Peer-to-Peer Led Behavioral Energy Reduction Program for a Low-Income Neighborhood

Jennifer Hoody, Anya Galli Robertson, Sarah Richard, Claire Frankowski, Kevin Hallinan, Ciara Owens and Bob Pohl
Additional contact information
Jennifer Hoody: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA
Anya Galli Robertson: Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA
Sarah Richard: Clean Energy 4 All, Dayton, OH 45410, USA
Claire Frankowski: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA
Kevin Hallinan: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA
Ciara Owens: Clean Energy 4 All, Dayton, OH 45410, USA
Bob Pohl: Clean Energy 4 All, Dayton, OH 45410, USA

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-27

Abstract: Utility-sponsored residential energy reduction programs have seen rapid advancement in the Unites States (US) over the past decade. These programs have particularly emphasized investments in energy efficient appliances and enveloped improvements. They have generally required co-investment by residents and, as a result, have mostly reached medium to high-income residents, with low income residences, in effect, supporting the utility investments through higher energy costs. Additionally, utility initiatives directed toward behavior-based energy reduction have reached residences with more advanced technologies, such as smart meters and smart Wi-Fi thermostats linked to phone apps, technologies generally not present in low-income residences. This research seeks to inform development of behavior-based energy reduction programs aimed specifically at low-income residences, premised on peer-to-peer energy education and support. It focuses on the design and implementation of a pilot program for 84 low-income residences in a medium-sized Midwestern US urban neighborhood, followed by measurement of realized energy savings and assessment of program outcomes through surveys of resident participants and interviews with program implementers. Only 21 residences provided an initial response to outreach. Of these, only 11 participated, and of these, energy savings were, in general, modest. However, evidence based upon other research and qualitative data obtained from program implementers and participants is presented in this study for the development of an improved design. The improved design emphasizes grassroots community co-design of the program and community engagement through program implementation to transform energy consumption and behaviors and find energy justice for vulnerable communities.

Keywords: energy burden; peer-to-peer; energy behavior; energy justice; low-income; underserved communities; energy savings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/15/4635/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/15/4635/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:15:p:4635-:d:605472

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().