10.2190/91AA-P97G-JF92-T7EJ 91AAP97GJF92T7EJ 5 The Effects of Daily Feedback on Residential Electricity Usage as a Function of Usage Level and Type of Feedback Information 275 287 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 91AAP97GJF92T7EJ.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=91AAP97GJF92T7EJ 3 Ronald G. Bittle Robert M. Valesano Greg M. Thaler Anna Mental Health and Developmental Center, Anna, Illinois This study was conducted with 353 families during the Summer of 1977. Families received daily feedback each day except Sunday. Feedback (the independent variable) consisted of either the kilowatts consumed the previous day, the cumulative kilowatts consumed since the first of the month, the cost of the electricity consumed the previous day or the cumulative cost of the electricity consumed since the first of the month. The dependent variable was the number of kilowatts of electricity consumed daily. Results indicated that feedback was effective in reducing consumption for high consumers but had the opposite effect for medium and low consumers. Data is presented to show the differential effect of the four various types of daily feedback. R. M. Foxx and D. F. Hake, Gasoline Conservation: A Procedure for Measuring and Reducing the Driving of College Students, <i>Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10</i>, pp. 61-74, 1977. R. A. Winett and M. T. Nietzel, Behavioral Ecology: Contingency Management of Consumer Energy Use, <i>American Journal of Community Psychology, 3</i>, pp. 123-133, 1975. S. C. Hayes and J. D. Cone, Reducing Residential Electricity Energy Use: Payments, Information, and Feedback, <i>Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis</i>, in press. R. A. Winett, J. Kagel, R. Battalio and R. C. Winkler, The Effects of Monetary Rebates, Feedback, and Information on Residential Electricity Conservation, <i>Journal of Applied Psychology, 63</i>:1, pp. 73-80, 1978. R. A. Winett, S. Kaiser and G. Haberkorn, The Effects of Monetary Rebates and Daily Feedback on Electricity Conservation, <i>Journal of Environmental Systems, 6</i>, pp. 327-339, 1977. R. Kohlenberg, T. Phillips and W. Proctor, A Behavioral Analysis of Peaking in Residential Electricity Energy Consumers, <i>Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 9</i>, pp. 13-18, 1976. R. A. Winett, in press. R. G. Bittle, R. M. Valesano and G. A. Thaler, Energy Conservation in a Large Mental Hospital, <i>Administration in Mental Health, 5</i>, pp. 154-161, 1978. R. G. Bittle, A Behavioral Approach to Fuel Conservation, <i>Phi Kappa Phi Journal, 56</i>, pp. 35-38, 1976. M. H. Palmer, M. E. Lloyd and K. E. Lloyd, An Experimental Analysis of Electricity Conservation Procedures, <i>Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10</i>, pp. 665-671, 1977. C. Seaver and A. H. Patterson, Decreasing Fuel-Oil Consumption Through Feedback and Social Commendation, <i>Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 9</i>, pp. 147-152, 1976. R. G. Bittle, R. Valesano and G. Thaler, The Effects of Daily Cost Feedback on Residential Electricity Consumption, <i>Behavior Modification</i>, in press.