Anglia Ruskin University

Attitudes to low energy homes in the UK

Skanska, a Scandinavian construction company, are currently building a residential development in Cambridge, close to Trumpington and Addenbrooke's hospital. We are working with them on this project to test British attitudes towards lower-energy housing, in particular when the decision to move house is being made. We are interested in how the framing of messages around housing and home energy might affect people's perceptions.

Principal Investigator: Cathrine Jansson-Boyd (Psychology, Anglia Ruskin)
GSI researchers: Rosie Robison, Aled Jones

Retro-fitting of social housing

Of England's 22.7 million households, 4 million live in social housing (Department for Communities and Local Government). This project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, will monitor a set of flats in Wisbech, Norfolk as they are fitted with Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) and Solar PV Panels, to reduce energy usage from the grid. Our input into the project will be around tenant engagement, working with the residents to understand their views on energy use, and their experience of the retro-fit process. Issues of fuel poverty and energy bill management may also play a role. We are also working on a related project involving ASHP installation in mid-Suffolk council housing.

Principal Investigators: Cathrine Jansson-Boyd (Psychology, Anglia Ruskin), Carlos Jimenez-Bescos (Built Environment, Angli Ruskin)
GSI researchers: Rosie Robison

Barriers to sustainable behaviour change and climate change communication

This theme is being investigated through a research project on the evolution of attitudes and stated behaviours at Anglia Ruskin University. This will involve surveying, at specific time intervals, the attitudes and stated behaviours of staff and student's at the University throughout their experience there. Attitude, behavioural and group segmentation profiles will be produced and the impact of external influences will also be evaluated.

GSI Researcher: Dr Candice Howarth

Evaluation of the Green Deal trials

The Cabinet Office's Behavioural Insights Team, The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), published a paper "Behaviour Change and Energy Use" in June 2011 announcing five trials, three of which focus on testing interventions to increase uptake of energy efficiency measures in the domestic sector.

The Green Deal is the coalition government's flagship policy to increase the energy efficiency of buildings in Great Britain, reduce emissions from homes by 29% and help meet our carbon reduction targets. It will enable households to install energy efficient measures; from loft, cavity, floor (etc) insulation to innovative hot water systems and solar PV in people's homes, at no upfront cost to them. Three different incentive structures will be tested to evaluate their impact on overcoming the hassle associated with loft clearance, and the impact of financial and community incentives on uptake of energy efficiency measures within the home.

The Global Sustainability Institute is contributing to the design of the trials with local authorities and the commercial sector to determine how interventions can be most effective in increasing uptake and which incentives are most attractive. The deferral of costs mimics the Green Deal and the fact that the payment is not immediate is the critical factor under Green Deal.

Principle Investigator: Dr Candice Howarth
GSI Researcher: Dr Aled Jones, Rosie Robison