 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | MIT | Sustainable Energy Systems
Research topic/area(s): Kat’s research domain is residential consumer behavior impact on energy efficiency, and the consumer-facing side of the Smart Grid; her methodology is adaptive management and theory-based market transformation/meta-analysis. Human behavior is often neglected, yet it is a critical component to building energy conservation. There has been a great deal of interest in technologies for measuring and displaying information to the user by implementing AMI and Smart Grid systems, but little of it has been based on the specific motivations and needs of the consumer. Kat’s research intends to bridge the gap between technology and humans to ensure that Smart Grid technologies realize their goals of strengthening the grid and reducing energy consumption. Experiments include equipping buildings with sensors to measure and automate energy use and study human behavior change; also, to understand the information displays, pricing strategies, and feedback and automation mechanisms that enable, engage, and motivate consumers most effectively. |
