Researchers from the University of Kent have developed a new method that can help motivate students to reduce their consumption of energy.

The study authors revealed that a real-time feedback system together with a human energy delegate in eight halls of residence helped reduce energy consumption by 37 percent when compared to normal consumption. The researched noted a total saving of 1360.49kWh, which is equal to a reduction of 713.71 kg of carbon dioxide over four weeks.

Contrarily, another eight halls, exposed only to the real-time feedback and a weekly email alert showed  only a 3.5 percent reduction in energy consumption. Researchers also clarified that there is no particular trend as to how much electricity students consume and there is no definite way to identify this complex energy-use behavior. The study also revealed that that energy consumption could reduce significantly if residential halls used the Persuasive Technology and Energy Delegate (IPTED) method developed by the research team.

IPTED is a real time feedback visual system developed to motivate students' energy use awareness, combined with an appointed energy delegate who could use peer social influence to promote energy saving.

In 2008, the University of Copenhagen set a goal of a 20 percent reduction in carbon-dioxide emissions and in energy consumption per student and employee. In 2013, they managed to achieve both goals with their 2013 Green Account showing that carbon-dioxide emissions were down 28.8 percent and energy consumption per student/employee was down 20.4 percent when compared to 2006 levels.

"We've met our goal, even though they were ambitious targets when we set them in 2008. The results are an example and they show that it is possible to make significant reductions in carbon-dioxide emissions and energy consumption. This is something that we, as one of the city's largest employers, have an obligation to do. Financially, it also makes a lot of sense," said Prorector for Research and Innovation, Thomas Bjørnholm, in a press statement, then.

Source: tietkiemnangluong.com.vn