Professor Yueming “Lucy” Qiu has been awarded a World Citizen Prize in Environmental Performance by the Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management (APPAM). This award celebrates her groundbreaking contributions in the field of energy policy and economics in analyzing consumer behaviors related to low-carbon technologies and their crucial role in mitigating climate change.
Qiu's award shows her strong commitment to unraveling the complexities of consumer responses to environmentally friendly technologies. Her research delves into various aspects, including factors influencing adoption, usage patterns and perceptions of these technologies. These insights are vital for policymakers seeking effective strategies to combat climate change and reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuel energy.
One of Qiu's notable achievements is her 2022 paper published in Nature Communications which investigated the influence of short-term temperature fluctuations on Energy Star air conditioner purchases in the United States. The study revealed that consumers are more likely to invest in energy-efficient appliances during specific temperature ranges, offering policymakers valuable information to bridge the energy efficiency gap.
Another study, published in Resource and Energy Economics in 2022, examined the impact of in-home electric vehicle (EV) charging on consumer electricity consumption behaviors. By analyzing large-scale consumer data, Qiu's research uncovered significant deviations between empirical estimations and predictions made by conventional economic models, emphasizing the need for more nuanced policies to encourage environmentally responsible behaviors.
Recently, Qiu's work in Nature Sustainability (2023) explored how public EV charging stations affect housing markets. Using a hedonic property value approach, her team demonstrated that access to EV charging infrastructure can increase property values, underscoring the positive perception of such facilities among local residents. This finding has the potential to stimulate private investments in EV charging infrastructure, further reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector.
What sets Qiu's research apart is its emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. Her work exemplifies the beneficial partnership between policymakers, scientists and economists in shaping effective environmental policies. By bridging the gap between academia and real-world policymaking, Qiu's research directly informs the development of evidence-based strategies to address climate change.
With a body of work that has reached policymakers and industry practitioners across the globe, Qiu’s research has influenced climate policy decisions and garnered her speaking invitations at various prestigious events including seminars, workshops and conferences. The APPAM award stands as a testament to Qiu’s commitment to advancing clean energy technologies and the profound impact her work has had on shaping effective climate policies. Through her interdisciplinary approach combining engineering, economics and policy analysis, Qiu has opened new avenues for addressing climate change and promoting environmentally conscious consumer behaviors.
