Residential Feedback Devices and Programs: Opportunities for Natural Gas

A review of residential energy feedback studies

“…The author classified feedback as direct feedback which is available on demand (displays, trigger devices, prepayment meters, cost plugs on appliances), indirect feedback where raw data is processed by the utility and sent to the customer (frequent bills) and inadvertent feedback (solar water heaters and photovoltaics). The direct and indirect classification was also mentioned in (Darby, 2006), , (Kerr, 2012), (McKerracher, 2013), (Zvingilaite, 2015), (Serrenho, 2015) and (Zangheri, 2019). (Abrahamse, 2005) discussed studies based on periodicity of the feedback: continuous, daily, weekly, monthly, feedback with comparison, and feedback with monetary rewards.…”

“…(Fischer, 2008) sub-classified medium as electronic media and written material. The same was adapted by (Froehlich, 2009), (Froehlich, 2010), (Schleich, 2013)and (Kerr, 2012). (Zangheri, 2019) classified medium types as IHD, bill, mail, PC or web cards, and mixed modes ().…”

“…Among the reviewed publications, a major number of studies used feedback through electronic medium. (Kerr, 2012) mentioned that paper-based bills were the preferred medium for many consumers and changing this to advanced paper bills that included detailed feedback can help make use of the already preferred written medium. (Gleerup, 2010) found that feedback through email and SMS messaging resulted in an average reduction of about 3% in the total annual electricity use.…”

“…The location of an IHD also plays an important role in energy savings. The location of a device within a home will affect how frequently it is viewed and by how many people (Kerr, 2012). A display located in the kitchen, living room or any active part of the house will be more easily accessible to the consumers and would help keep a better track of energy consumption.…”

“…Feedback frequency was discussed by (Fischer, 2008), (Froehlich, 2009), and (Kerr, 2012). In the reviewed studies, (Fischer, 2008) found that feedback frequencies can be continuous, daily bimonthly or monthly.…”