Research at REEP

The Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo brings a strong research component to REEP. As part of an ongoing home energy study, REEP participants are asked to fill out a survey about electricity use, attitudes and behaviour around energy issues, and climate change. The behavioural data collected is combined with technical and consumption data to provide a rich dataset for study of energy patterns in Waterloo Region.

Professors and graduate and undergraduate researchers have used REEP data in their research projects and papers. REEP research findings have been published in journals and presented at conferences such as the International Climate Change Communication Conference (2000) and the Canadian Society for Ecological Economics Conference (2005).

The REEP research project has been reviewed by, and received ethics clearance through the Office of Research Ethics at the University of Waterloo. Customers’ participation is completely confidential.

One of REEP’s goals is to help people see the links between their own actions and larger issues such as energy use and over-consumption, climate change, smog and air quality. To achieve this, we use community-based social marketing (CBSM) techniques, a practical approach to changing people’s attitudes and behaviour. Key elements of CBSM that guide efforts at REEP include identifying and overcoming the barriers to residential energy efficiency and developing a social norm in which taking action against climate change by improving energy efficiency at home is an accepted and desirable behaviour.

Click here to learn more about community based social marketing.

For questions about REEP's research contact one of the following:

Ian Rowlands: Associate Professor, University of Waterloo
Jenn Lynes: Assistant Professor, University of Waterloo
Paul Parker: Professor and Chair, University of Waterloo

REEP uses and discloses your personal information only for the purposes it was collected. REEP does not sell or rent personal information to any organization or person for any reason.

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