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Behaviourally-Informed Peer Referral Programmes can Increase the Reach of Low-Income Energy Policies

Journal Article · · Nature Energy

Low-income solar adopters are more likely to refer others to a fully subsidized solar programme when referral rewards are combined with an appeal to reciprocity and a simplified referral process, leading to five times as many solar contracts as when referral rewards are used alone. The findings highlight behavioural science strategies that administrators of low-income energy assistance programmes can use to cost-effectively accelerate programme uptake.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1998680
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-6A20-87368; MainId:88143; UUID:5d9fca03-5ab4-4b9e-bfb4-9d1a20ec731d; MainAdminID:70415
Journal Information:
Nature Energy, Vol. 8
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (3)

The justice and equity implications of the clean energy transition journal June 2020
Characterizing local rooftop solar adoption inequity in the US journal February 2022
Are the Non-Monetary Costs of Energy Efficiency Investments Large? Understanding Low Take-up of a Free Energy Efficiency Program journal May 2015