Michelle studies the human dimension of home energy use: behaviours, social influences and the interaction of these with technologies and buildings.

Michelle is an invited UK country expert on the International Energy Agency’s Demand Side Management Task XXIV (Behaviour Change) and provides expert advice to the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change, Communities and Local Government, the Central Office of Information and English Heritage. This advice focuses on behaviour change and strategies for reducing home energy use. She is on the Advisory Committee of the Global Cool Foundation – an innovative climate change charity. Her report Motivating Home Energy Action: a handbook of what works – for the Australian Greenhouse Office in 2000 – strongly influenced the direction of Australia’s ‘Cool Communities’ greenhouse reduction programme and is cited by the IEA’s Demand-Side Management Programme, UNEP and by a working group to the IPCC. Prior to moving into academia, Michelle worked in the Australian Government’s overseas aid program, managing scholarships of students from developing countries.

Michelle conceived and directed the first English survey of home energy use, developing the survey instruments in close collaboration with technical colleagues on the Carbon Reduction in Buildings research consortium. The survey instrument was also used in the OFGEM/DECC Energy Demand Reduction Pilot (“smart metering”) trials of energy feedback devices. Michelle continues to analyse this rich dataset together with colleagues and students.