Nudgeable, to a degree: an experimental examination of temperature defaults in university residence halls
| Author(s) | Nelson-Poteet, Carl | |
| Date Accessioned | 2025-05-27T18:18:47Z | |
| Date Available | 2025-05-27T18:18:47Z | |
| Publication Date | 2025 | |
| SWORD Update | 2025-05-12T04:04:47Z | |
| Abstract | Air conditioning and heating are the two largest categories of residential energy use. We conducted a field experiment across 566 dorm rooms at the University of Delaware to test whether temperature setting defaults can be used to reduce energy consumption. Treatments, applied using a between-subject design, varied the default temperature and how frequently the default was reset. Post-experiment survey data are used to identify relevant psychological channels through which the default effect is activated, along with residents’ emotional reactance to the default. Using difference-in-differences regression models, we find the presence of default effects in all treatments. This default effect appears to be primarily driven by the effort required to repeatedly change away from the default temperature, concern for others’ comfort, and a lack of knowledge about how the dorm room thermostats work. Residents’ perceptions of the experiment were neutral to slightly positive on average, but the welfare effects of the default remain unclear as some residents maintained default settings simply because they did not believe they could change the thermostat setting. A supplemental field experiment finds that, relative to the status quo, winter energy consumption and operating costs of the dorm room fan coil units can be cut ~28% through more efficient heating setpoints, and an additional ~9% through weekly reinforcement of a temperature default. These results demonstrate that small temperature defaults may be a promising way to reduce energy consumption and costs without provoking a negative response from occupants. Future research is needed to understand the effect of temperature defaults in warm seasons and to clarify welfare effects, particularly when residents lack understanding about how to operate their thermostats. | |
| Advisor | Palm-Forster, Leah H. | |
| Degree | M.S. | |
| Department | University of Delaware, Department of Applied Economics and Statistics | |
| Program | Univerity of Delaware, Water Science and Policy Program | |
| Unique Identifier | 1525000759 | |
| URL | https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/36207 | |
| Language | en | |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | |
| URI | https://www.proquest.com/pqdtlocal1006271/dissertations-theses/nudgeable-degree-experimental-examination/docview/3202727685/sem-2?accountid=10457 | |
| Keywords | Temperature defaults | |
| Keywords | Air conditioning | |
| Keywords | Heating | |
| Keywords | Energy consumption | |
| Title | Nudgeable, to a degree: an experimental examination of temperature defaults in university residence halls | |
| Type | Thesis |