Changing habits, lifestyles and choices: The behaviours that drive feedback-induced energy savings

Panel: 8. Dynamics of consumption

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez, Navigant, USA
Skip Laitner, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), USA
Kat Donnelly, USA

Abstract

Advanced metering devices and new feedback programs and technologies are opening up a wide range of new opportunities for making energy consumption more visible to residential consumers and for engaging individuals and households in more thoughtful energy use practices. Data from several recent studies suggest that feedback-induced energy savings can be significant (Darby 2006, EPRI 2009) ranging from 4 to 12 percent depending on the technologies employed, the characteristics of the program, and other relevant factors (Ehrhardt-Martinez et al. 2010). However few studies have investigated the types of behaviors that underlie feedback-induced energy savings. Once people receive information about their energy consumption patterns, there are a wide variety of things they can do to reduce the amount of energy they consume. Past studies suggest that energy savings are typically achieved as a result of three categories of action: 1) simple changes in routines and habits, 2) infrequent and low-cost energy stocktaking behaviors (i.e. replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs, weather stripping, etc) , and 3) consumer investments in new energy-efficient appliances, devices and materials. However, evidence from several feedback studies suggests that most of the energy savings achieved through feedback programs results from changes in behaviors (not investments). This paper describes and assesses the types of behaviors that are motivated by feedback.