Field experiment of smartphone-based energy efficiency services for households: Impact of advice through push notifications

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the effectiveness of energy efficiency advice in the residential sector by using the push notification function of a smartphone app. The app was provided to approximately 1,700 households, who were recruited by an opt-in method, in the Kanto region where the temperate climate in eastern Japan. We conducted randomized controlled trials to evaluate the impact of push notifications with energy efficiency advice. The proposed energy efficiency advice used the data of electricity consumption and attributes as well as behavioral science’s “nudge” approach. The results indicate that the energy efficiency advice reduced electricity consumption by 1.3%, which is statistically significant. Furthermore, the implementation rates had increased for some of the energy-efficiency behaviors that were mentioned in the advice. Additionally, the opening ratios of the push notifications were improved 1.2 and 1.3 times using personalized sentences and adjusting the timing of the push notifications, respectively. These results indicated that personalization of the push notifications could increase the number of users who check the advice. An increase in the energy efficiency rate was observed among households who checked the advice on the standby screen of the smartphone and the dialog and notification list screen in the app. Although this study used relatively simple logic to deliver personalized energy efficiency advice, the results suggest that utilizing smartphones and various data, as well as making communication more interactive between the users and service providers, could effectively induce energy-efficient behavior.