Behavioral Research ​

  • Storm.of.constraints
    Supporting Income-Eligible Customers in a “Perfect Storm” of Constraints

    Articles

    Meeting the Moment We’re In  Across the country, utilities are navigating a convergence of pressures—rising temperatures, escalating energy costs, shrinking federal…

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  • Addressing The Human Side Of The Great Deployment 4
    Building Trust and Demonstrating Value

    Presentations

    In this presentation, ILLUME Executive Vice President Jes Rivas will be speaking about Building Trust and Demonstrating Value.

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  • Understanding.home.decision.making
    Understanding Home Decision-Making

    Articles

    Residential buildings account for approximately 20% of energy consumption in the U.S. To achieve local, state, and federal decarbonization and electrification…

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  • Tunnel.vision
    Tunnel Vision

    White Papers

    The Impact of Ignoring Behavior in Technological Innovation. In this white paper presented at the ACEEE Summer Study 2022 Conference, the…

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  • Brain In A Hand
    What Makes People Tick?

    Articles

    What motivates us to do what we do? Why can’t we change habits we want to change? Why can’t we remember…

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  • Current Podcast 4 3
    Power Sharing to Empower Customer Participation

    Podcasts

    In this podcast, ILLUME Senior Consultant, Riana Johnson has a conversation with sociologist Dr. Erin Heinz about her research on urban…

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  • Win Win 2
    Integrated Market Research Unlocks the New Tech Win-Win

    Articles

    How can utilities capitalize on their natural edge as a known and trusted energy provider? Learn how ILLUME used an integrated…

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  • Current Podcast 4 3
    The Hidden Cost of Free

    Podcasts

    Anne Dougherty talks with ILLUME’s Dr. Alex Dunn and Erin Allingham about the intersection of cognitive psychology and behavioral economics, two…

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  • Thermostat
    Optimizing Thermostat Demand Response Program Performance Paper

    Case Studies

    This paper, co-presented at the 2019 IEPEC conference, explores how weather and program design factors influence DR program participant behavior, particularly…

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  • What People Do With Their Thermostats
    Do You Ever Wonder What People Actually DO With Their Thermostats?

    Case Studies

    This research, co-presented with Guidehouse at the 2019 AESP Conference, includes a comprehensive analysis of customers in Worcester, MA, to better…

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  • Smart Home And Lightbulb 2
    Methods and Metrics for Divergent Populations

    Presentations

    In their 2018 BECC presentation, Allison T. Musvosvi and Shefije Miftari share how their research helped a client listen to their…

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  • Smart home thermostat
    The Role of Weather in Air Conditioning Use

    Case Studies

    This research for the Massachusetts Program Administrators analyzes weather effects on the timing of first and last use of AC during…

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  • What Drives Customer
    What Drives Customers?

    Presentations

    In her 2018 presentation at the CEE Partner Meeting, Sara Conzemius shares what customers care about – home, family, harmony, agency.…

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  • Evolution part 2 path 1000x500 v3
    Evolution, Part 2: New Research Tools for a New Energy Market

    Articles

      This is Part 2 of Dr. Liz Kelley’s blog, “Evolution, Part 1: Distribution planning models for the DER age” where…

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  • Liz kelley
    Evolution, Part 1: Distribution Planning Models for the DER Age

    Articles

    Whether your utility is thinking about new distributed generation technologies, incorporating advanced metering infrastructure, the Internet of Things, or the proliferation…

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  • 83 Percent On English
    Diverse Communications for Diverse Customers

    Presentations

    In their 2018 EEI workshop, Anne Dougherty and Allison T. Musvosvi share findings from our research on how concepts of energy,…

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  • Couple Laughing
    Massachusetts Residential and Commercial Awareness

    Case Studies

    ILLUME conducted a statewide marketing survey of residential and commercial customers for the Program Administrators (process, market effects) to assess the…

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  • Bulb Over City
    Home Energy Report Savings Literature Review

    Reports

    Our team conducted a thorough review of research addressing the research question: What happens to energy savings when HER recipients no…

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  • Local Business Color
    Finding Big Potential in Small Businesses

    White Papers

    Eileen Hannigan’s white paper shares how small businesses, which may have limited capital for large investments, are good candidates for low-cost…

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