UC Davis

Smart home technologies have been deployed to reduce or shift residential energy demand by employing scheduling strategies such as time-of-use electricity pricing. This study evaluates behavioral aspects of users equipped with smart home technologies by incorporating cost-related notifications into multiple smart appliances in real-world settings. Smart thermostats, smart plugs, clothes washers, dryers, and dishwashers were installed in eight households for one year to evaluate changes in user behavior and power load shifting. During this period, three cost-related notification features were introduced: (1) mode choices for thermostat control and associated mode-specific cost and temperature displays, (2) delay nudges that encouraged users to postpone appliance use during peak periods by showing potential savings, and (3) monetary incentives for deferred operation. Results revealed that mode-specific cost information led users to make clear trade-offs between cooling preferences and monetary cost. Users were willing to pay an additional dollar to lower the thermostat setpoint by 0.72°F during the summer months. The delay nudges resulted in 82% of appliance cycles occurring off-peak, shifting washers and dishwashers and reducing their peak-hour loads, while dryers achieved measurable savings for users who frequently delayed use. The monetary incentives were also effective, with a one-dollar increase raising delay acceptance by 32% for washers, 25% for dryers, and 46% for dishwashers. These findings highlight the importance of refining notification intensity and design to match each appliance’s demand profile and intended behavior. By combining cost-related feedback with targeted interventions, smart home systems can reduce peak-period demand and support sustained energy savings.