Title: Energy Consumers Perceptions and Behavior Regarding Their Social and Private Energy and Environmental Costs

Biography:

Omid Mohammadzadeh Rouhani, expertise is in the area of transportation economics and transportation systems analysis. His research program focuses on: network design problems, road and congestion pricing; advanced traveler information systems; public private partnership projects, energy policy analysis; optimization techniques for transportation problems; and sustainable infrastructure systems.

Abstract

Despite the adverse health and environmental impacts of energy consumption, consumers continue making unsustainable consumption decisions mainly due to the lack of sustainable alternatives (such as renewable energy sources, energy efficiency opportunities, public transport, etc.) and/or due to the lack of information regarding the associated energy and environmental costs. Sustainable energy consumption behavior and choices, however, are becoming increasingly vital to address growing climate change and other environmental concerns. Informing consumers of their footprints is emerging as a potential means of promoting sustainable development in forms of smart cities, advanced traveler information systems, resilient infrastructure programs, etc. However, the impact of offering such information on consumers is yet to be determined.