The Government wants every home
to have one by 2020, but might the new generation of electricity meters help to
change people’s attitudes to climate change?
An academic at The University of
Nottingham is to argue that providing information about saved carbon emissions
through the new smart meters could be more effective in persuading consumers to
changing their behaviour than by demonstrating savings on their bills alone.
Dr Alexa Spence, an academic in
the University’s School of Psychology and a research fellow at the University
of Nottingham-based Horizon Digital Economy Research hub, is an expert in
public perceptions of climate change and energy issues.
She will be speaking at the two-day
international conference Energy and People:
Futures, Complexity and Challenges,
jointly hosted by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) and the Environmental
Change Institute at Oxford University and running from Tuesday September 20 to
Wednesday September 21.
Dr Spence is due to begin a
study examining the impact that smart meters will have on people’s perceptions
of climate change. She said: “Providing customers with information on saved
carbon emissions on these devices may be useful in helping to make climate
change real and empowering people to make a difference.
“While people may be primarily
concerned about energy prices, this is likely to encourage only certain changes
in behaviour. Psychology theory suggests that talking about energy savings in
terms of the environment may encourage people to undertake a broader range of
sustainable behaviours.”
Smart meters are a new type of
electricity meter that can remotely communicate with energy companies to
provide accurate meter readings without the need for someone to come and
physically read the meter. As bills are accurate it cuts out estimated bills or
the potential for over or underpaying.
Dr Spence will be one of a
number of energy and climate change specialists presenting at the conference this
week, which aims to examine the complex relationship between energy and people,
including the impact future energy practices will have on communities around
the world. It will examine the links between society and energy use,
particularly in the transition to a secure, affordable and low-carbon energy
system.
Other papers being delivered at
the conference will centre on topics including: whether people have a Jekyll
and Hyde personality when acting pro-environmentally to save energy in the home
compared to the workplace; a controversial proposal for energy charging whereby
customers are limited to a maximum power they can draw at any one time; and the
global impacts surrounding the increasing demand for transport biofuels.
More information is available from Dr
Alexa Spence on +44 (0)7876 631793,
alexa.spence@nottingham.ac.uk;
Amanda Berry, Marketing, Communications and Events
Assistant at Horizon Digital Economy Research on +44 (0)115
823 2554, amanda.berry@nottingham.ac.uk
or Emma Thorne,
Media Relations Manager in the Communications Office at The University of
Nottingham, on +44 (0)115 951 5793, emma.thorne@nottingham.ac.uk