Promoting voluntary peak demand response behaviors in the United States: A special examination across income groups

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Dr. Chien-fei Chen (Ph.D. in Sociology, Washington State University)
• Thursday 14 December 2017, 14:00-15:00
• Room 1109A, Level 11, EEE Department.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Guler Eroglu.

Abstract – This presentation is built upon the results of an online survey conducted among 1482 U.S. residents from States of California, Texas, Tennessee and Virginia on their willingness to participate in different demand response (DR) programs based on the collaborative research with power system engineers and social-psychologists. This presentation addresses one DR behavior in particular- voluntarily raising thermostat settings 2-3 °F during peak hours in summer, and focuses on the comparison among low, medium, and high-income groups, as well as a variety of social-psychological and demographic factors based on extended Theory of Planned Behavior. Our data shows that none of the income groups was significantly more (or less) willing to raise their thermostat settings. However, the social-psychological factors that contribute to the residents’ decision-making varied across income groups. For example, social norms (i.e., family and friends’ expectations) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) mattered more to the low-income group, whereas values (e.g., environmental concern) and energy habits mattered more to the high-income group. Across all income categories, thermal comfort need (i.e., the need for coolness), was negatively predictive of DR participation, while attitudes were positively predictive. Meanwhile, low-income groups reported significantly lower levels of social norms and PBC than other two groups. This study is an early attempt to examine DR potential in light of social concerns, such as income disparity and energy inequality. The findings provide insights for both policy makers and industry practitioners in terms of better designing and implementing DR programs. Distinct opportunities and obstacles should be addressed across different income groups.

Speaker – Dr. Chien-fei Chen (Ph.D. in Sociology, Washington State university) is a research professor and director of education and diversity program at NSF -DOE funded engineering research center, Center for Ultra-wide-area Resilient Electric Energy Transmission Networks (CURENT), Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, U.S.A.. She is also an adjunct faculty in the department of sociology. Her research interests include: 1) interdisciplinary research in the areas of power systems, renewable energy, energy conservation behaviors and environmental sociology; 2) social-psychological factors and human decision-making processes into engineering modeling to better understand power systems, and acceptance of renewable energy technology and energy issues; 3) energy behaviors in commercial buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions; and 4) fundamental interdisciplinary knowledge to the research community, utility companies and policy makers.

Her publications appear in the IEEE , Building and Environment, Energy Research and Social Science, Journal of Environmental Psychology, American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), American Sociological Association, Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference, and so on. Currently, she leads the projects of public acceptance of power grid technologies and demand response at CURNET . Since 2014, she has involved with the investigation of social psychological factors affecting building occupant behaviors for the International Energy Agency (IEA), Energy in Buildings and Communities (EBC) Annex 66. In addition, she leads sustainability education program and social psychological analysis of energy behaviors for the NSF -REC-SEES Network: Predictive Modeling Network for Sustainable Human-Building Ecosystems (SHBE). Between 2013-2015, she has received several grant awards from National Science Foundation in the United States to conduct interdisciplinary studies regarding public acceptance of communication technology and social-psychological factors and micro-grid resilience and acceptance of grid technologies.

This talk is part of the Featured talks series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• Andrea Picciau's list
• COMMSP & CP list
• COMMSP Seminar
• Featured talks
• Room 1109A, Level 11, EEE Department
• SAP Talks

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.