UCLA

The use of field experiments and randomized controlled trials offer rich sources of inquiry to uncover causal mechanisms in the social and behavioral sciences. When these approaches are further integrated with the latest advances in engineering and information technologies, the result is an integrated research agenda that can shape new directions for innovation, science and public policy. This dissertation combines three essays on the use of experimental methods in the study human decision making with advanced technologies. The focus of this work is on demand side innovation for energy efficiency and conservation. We engage both business and residential consumers in energy efficiency and conservation decisions, using information-based strategies, smart metering technologies, and finally grand challenges as a policy mechanism. We investigate how information changes the behavior of consumers, households and firms, advancing the literature on non-monetary incentives for behavior change and making theoretical advances on altruistic motivations for energy conservation behavior.