Project: I am Zero Changing individual behaviours through digital technology to reduce indoor emissions in UK homes from a behavioural economics perspective

Siriwardane Mudiyanselage, Punsaranie (2026) Project: I am Zero Changing individual behaviours through digital technology to reduce indoor emissions in UK homes from a behavioural economics perspective. Doctoral thesis, Birmingham City University.

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Text Punsaranie Siriwardane Mudiyanselage PhD Thesis_Final Version_Final Award February 2026.pdf - Accepted Version Download (5MB)

Abstract

The anthropogenic indoor air emissions, global warming, climate change, outdoor air pollution, and indoor air quality are interconnected as links in a continuous cycle, each reinforcing and worsening the others. Residential energy consumption highlights as one of the main contributors to anthropogenic indoor air emissions and poor indoor air quality in the UK. Existing research showed that reductions in household energy consumption is mainly rooted in the behaviours of the home occupants. This highlights the importance of behavioural economics in facilitating the sustainable behavioural change among the home occupants. Nudging, which is the practical application of behavioural economics, is highlighted as the solution for reducing household energy consumption and its related indoor air emissions and improving indoor air quality.

In the realm of digital technology, ‘smart nudging’, which is the extended version of digital nudging, has emerged as a main research focus that bridges the gap between nudging and digital technology. Focusing on smart nudging, this study aims to propose an actionable, practical, evidence-based, and validated smart nudge design for the household energy sector that facilitates the sustainable behavioural change. This study assesses the effectiveness of smart nudging interventions in improving different indoor air quality parameters, namely, carbon dioxide (CO2), relative humidity, Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), and temperature. In addition, this study investigates the most effective smart nudging intervention in achieving the overall reduction of indoor air emissions related to household energy use and improvement of the indoor air quality holistically.

This research employed an action research methodology, using a within-subject design with repeated measures, multiple case studies design, and a mixed-method approach. The triangulated findings revealed that social comparison is the most effective smart nudging intervention in achieving the overall reduction of indoor air emissions and improving indoor air quality. Loss-aversion showed the highest effectiveness in reducing high CO2 levels. Feedback showed the highest effectiveness in improving both relative humidity and TVOC levels. No smart nudging intervention was effective in improving temperature. In conclusion, this thesis contributes to the field of built environment by offering a smart nudge design for the household energy sector with new logic formulations for different smart nudging interventions to effectively nudge the home occupants towards achieving sustainable behavioural change, and thereby, reducing indoor air emissions and improving indoor air quality in the UK homes.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Dates:	Date Event 6 February 2026 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Smart nudging, indoor emissions, behaviours, digital, technology, indoor air quality
Subjects:	CAH13 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01-02 - building
Divisions:	Architecture, Built Environment, Computing and Engineering > Architecture and Built Environment > Built Environment Doctoral Research College > Doctoral Theses Collection
Depositing User:	Louise Muldowney
Date Deposited:	30 Mar 2026 13:32
Last Modified:	30 Mar 2026 14:21
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16947

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