FAQs Archive - Page 6 of 6 - Smart Energy Research Lab

Q: Do I have to take part?

You are not obliged to take part, but the success of the project depends on your participation. Should you choose to participate, you can withdraw at any time by logging on to the participant portal , by e-mailing us at helpdesk@serl.ac.uk or by writing to Smart Energy Research Lab, UCL, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London, WC1H 0NN.

Q: Do I need ethics approval for my research?

Applications to SERL will be assessed by the SERL Data Governance Board. A prerequisite of applications to use SERL data is that the project has been approved by the applicants’ institutional ethics committee.

Q: Why have I been chosen?

We aim to have around 10,000 households taking part in the study from across Great Britain. If you have received a letter from us your address has been selected at random from households with a smart meter. Other than your address and basic information about the meter installation, no other data has been shared with UCL up until this point.

Q: Who is the project run by?

SERL is now funded under the UKRI Energy Demand Observatory and Laboratory programme (EDOL). EDOL is jointly run by University College London (UCL) and the University of Oxford. Accent Market Research is supporting UCL and the University of Oxford with surveys and mailings.

Q: What is the purpose of the project?

With rising energy prices, rapid social and technological change, and the threat of climate change, understanding our nation’s energy needs has never been more important. Your participation will enable UK universities to carry out research to better understand how we use energy in our homes. The results will be used to inform effective government policies, drive technological innovation, and make energy consumption more secure, sustainable and affordable.