What is the purpose of this study?

The purpose of this research is to understand how people interact with their thermostats to control the heating and cooling systems in their homes to meet their comfort needs. This is important because electrifying heating and cooling systems in homes and powering these systems with renewable energy is an essential strategy for mitigating climate change. The challenge is that the electric grid cannot control the generation of renewable energy like wind and solar power in the same way as non-renewable sources like natural gas or coal, so electric grid operators need ways to anticipate and manage the demand for electricity. Greater flexibility in when electricity is used will become increasingly important as we transition to renewable energy sources. Our study tries to understand how “flexible” people and homes can be while continuing to provide comfortable spaces.