INEGI is looking for volunteers to study the reduction of energy consumption at home

INEGI is looking for 100 volunteer families to participate in a study that aims to assess the effectiveness of behavioral strategies in improving energy efficiency. Participants must live in the Porto district, have Wi-Fi at home, and live with children up to 12 years old.

Under the coordination of INEGI's team of experts, volunteers will help test a methodology inspired by behavioral science. "We want to prove that this methodology helps reduce energy consumption, while ensuring a healthy and comfortable environment for families with young children", explains Zenaida Mourão, responsible for the project at INEGI.

In this pilot test, families will use a smartphone app and receive periodic recommendations to better manage energy use at home. These "nudges" will be personalized to each family, as they will be based on information collected by measuring equipment for energy consumption and sensors for monitoring indoor air quality installed in the house.

Interested parties can access the information brochure (in portuguese) to find out more details, and register HERE.

This Portuguese pilot takes place within the scope of NUDGE, a European project that proposes to pave the way for new energy policies based on behavioral science, contributing to the increase of energy efficiency in buildings at a European level.

The urgency and depth of the behavioral changes needed to mitigate climate change requires a great effort from each of us. But changing habits and routines is not an easy process, and a few nudges in the right direction can make a difference.

The project involves 10 institutions, and will be implemented in Portugal, under the responsibility of INEGI, as well as in Belgium, Germany, Greece and Croatia. The NUDGE – NUDging consumers towards enerGy Efficiency through behavioral science project is co-financed by the European Union, within the framework of COMPETE 2020 (Operational Program for Competitiveness and Internationalization), within the scope of the Incentive System for Research and Technological Development.