Description:

This thesis focuses on the role of behavioural interventions and emerging technologies in promoting energy-efficient heating practices. Interventions have been shown to effectively influence energy-saving behaviours, especially when tailored and delivered in a more personalized manner [1]. With advancements in technology, these interventions can now be implemented directly and more effectively.

Socio-economic factors, regional differences and building characteristics shape heating technology choices [2,3]. Incentive-based approaches can drive resource-efficient behaviour, as evidenced in studies on water consumption during showering, where different incentives yielded varying levels of effectiveness [1].

Objectives:

You will develop an experimental design aimed to adopt more resource-efficient and climate-friendly heat consumption behaviours. By integrating behavioural insights, your design will explore effective incentive strategies to reduce energy usage and contribute to sustainable living. The goal is for the developed experimental design to be implemented within the D2HeaTEC project, fostering more resource-efficient and climate-friendly heating behaviours. Surveys can be used to gather insights into residents’ knowledge and attitudes about energy-saving heating behaviours.

Referred Project:

The D²HeaTEC (Decarbonisation of district heating with techno-economic controls) project explores residential heat consumption by installing technologies like heat pumps and solar thermal systems in households, alongside deploying a network of sensors to monitor real-time energy use.

Formalities:

The thesis can be undertaken in German or English. The project is ready to commence immediately.

Introductory Literature:

[1]: Tiefenbeck, V., Wörner, A., Schöb, S. et al. Real-time feedback promotes energy conservation in the absence of volunteer selection bias and monetary incentives. Nat Energy 4, 35–41 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0282-1

[2] Braun, F. G. (2010). Determinants of households’ space heating type: A discrete choice analysis for German households. Energy Policy, 38(10), 5493-5503.

[3] Hansen, A. R. (2016). The social structure of heat consumption in Denmark: New interpretations from quantitative analysis. Energy Research & Social Science, 11, 109-118.