NUDGE newsletter – 3rd issue, March 2023

Dear reader,

Welcome to the March 2023 edition of the NUDGE newsletter, where we provide updates on the latest research and events related to the NUDGE project.

Firstly, we are excited to announce that NUDGE will be holding two events in Brussels on the 6th and 7th of June. The “EU Stakeholder Workshop” will bring together key stakeholders to discuss successful innovative actions and initiatives for consumers’ engagement in key areas of interest; and a second event will engage with policymakers in the European Parliament. We look forward to sharing more details about these events in the coming weeks.

We are also proud to share some of the latest peer-reviewed and open access articles and reports produced by the NUDGE consortium. You can read about promoting healthy homes and long-lasting energy-efficient behaviour among families with children in Portugal, identifying opportunities for improvement, such as replacing low energy-efficient technologies. We also investigate the design of nudging interventions to change EV user preferences, such as social comparison and normative feedback, to reduce load peaks in the distribution grid. Additionally, we are examining how nudges can be used to promote energy-saving behaviours and how understanding and changing user behaviour is an essential and impactful part of reducing energy consumption. We also present an interim report documenting the first batch of datasets generated from the energy interventions through field trials in five pilots throughout the first 22 months of NUDGE.

The NUDGE project aims to enhance our understanding of human behaviour to promote efficient energy use. We have already witnessed the benefits of visualizing and automating energy use in improving consumers’ comprehension. Furthermore, increased knowledge about energy has a positive impact on our energy-saving efforts, as our research has indicated. We have also discovered that perceived behaviour control is a powerful determinant of behaviour change, which is the feeling of being capable of accomplishing something. Therefore, it is crucial to focus the messaging of nudges on practical aspects that demonstrate the possibility and means of achieving energy-saving goals. By integrating the latest research in behavioural science with innovative technological solutions, we aspire to create a positive impact in the fight against climate change.

NUDGE will end in November 2023 and we look forward to sharing more updates with you in the coming months.

Enjoy reading,

Filippos Anagnostopoulos, IEECP, NUDGE project coordinator