Feedback has been studied as a strategy for promoting energy conservation for more than 30 years, with studies reporting widely varying results. Literature reviews have suggested that the effectiveness of feedback depends on both how and to whom it is provided; yet variations in both the type of feedback provided and the study methodology have made it difficult for conclusions to be drawn. The current article analyzes past theoretical and empirical research on both feedback and proenvironmental behavior to identify unresolved issues, and utilizes a meta-analysis of 42 feedback studies published between 1976 and 2010 to test a set of hypotheses about when and how feedback about energy usage is most effective. Results indicate that feedback is effective overall, r = .071, p < .001, but with significant variation in effects (r varied from -.080 to .480). Several treatment variables were found to moderate this relationship, including frequency, medium, comparison message, duration, and combination with other interventions (e.g., goal, incentive). Overall, results provide further evidence of feedback as a promising strategy to promote energy conservation and suggest areas in which future research should focus to explore how and for whom feedback is most effective.

Technologies providing opportunities for home energy management have been on the rise in recent years, however, it's not clear how well the technologyas it's currently being developed-will be able to deliver energy saving or demand shifting benefits. The current study undertakes an analysis of 313 home energy management (HEM) products to identify key differences in terms of functionality and quality. Findings identified opportunities for energy savings (both behavioural and operational) as well as load shifting across most product categories, however, in many instances other potential benefits related to convenience, comfort, or security may limit the realisation of savings. This is due to lack of information related to energy being collected and presented to users, as well as lack of understanding of how users may interact with the additional information and control provided. While the current study goes some way to identify the technical capabilities and potential for HEM products to deliver savings, it is recommended that further work expand on this to identify how users interact with these technologies in their home, in both a standalone and fully integrated smart home environment to deliver benefits to both homes and the grid.

Residential energy conservation is among the most efficient means of reducing emissions, yet behavior is lagging behind this potential, suggesting this is an area where psychology can contribute. Research suggests that conservation behaviors may cluster into distinct dimensions, and a greater understanding of these differences could improve intervention. This article explores this idea through systematic literature review and analysis of survey data. Content analysis of 28 articles showed strong support for two primary dimensions (curtailment and efficiency), with up to nine defining attributes. However, analysis also identified inconsistencies, leaving questions about their validity. Factor analysis of survey data identified two principal components along these dimensions; subsequent analyses revealed several differences in their predictors. Results provide support for a dimensional approach and suggest further research into underlying attributes. Although the curtailment versus efficiency dichotomy may be useful, it also has the potential to obscure high leverage maintenance behaviors, especially for renters.

The communication of information about natural hazard risks to the public is a difficult task for decision makers. Research suggests that newer forms of technology present useful options for building disaster resilience. However, how effectively these newer forms of media can be used to inform populations of the potential hazard risks in their communityremainsunclear. Thisresearch uses primary data from an in-person surveyof164 residents of Newport Beach, Californiaduring the spring of 2014 to ascertain thecurrent and preferred mechanisms through which individuals receive information on flood risks in their community. Factor analysis of survey data identified two predominant routes of dissemination forrisk information: older traditional media and newer social media sources. A logistic regression model was specified to identify predictors for choosing a particular communication route. This analysis revealed that ageis the central factor in predicting the sources people useto receive risk information. We follow the analysis by discussing this finding and its policy implications.

Existing needs to manage flood risk in the United States are underserved by available flood hazard information. This contributes to an alarming escalation of flood impacts amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars per year and countless disrupted lives and affected communities. Making information about flood hazards useful for the range of decisions that dictate the consequences of flooding poses many challenges. Here, we describe collaborative flood modeling, whereby researchers and end‐users at two coastal sites co‐develop fine‐resolution flood hazard models and maps responsive to decision‐making needs. We find, first of all, that resident perception and awareness of flooding are enhanced more by fine‐resolution depth contour maps than Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood hazard classification maps and that viewing fine‐resolution depth contour maps helps to minimize differences in flood perception across subgroups within the community, generating a shared understanding. We also find that collaborative flood modeling supports the engagement of a wide range of end‐users in contemplating the risks of flooding and provides strong evidence that the co‐produced knowledge can be readily adopted and applied for Flood Risk Management (FRM). Overall, collaborative flood modeling advances FRM by providing multiple points of entry for diverse groups of end‐users to contemplate the spatial extent, intensity, timing, chance, and consequences of flooding, thus enabling the web of decision‐making related to flooding to be better informed with the best available science. This transdisciplinary approach emphasizes vulnerability reduction and is complementary to FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps used for flood insurance administration.