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Energy conservation, how is it possible. A social-psychological research of the promotion of energy conservation by influencing the behavior of households

Abstract

The Energy Study Centre, of the Dutch Energy Research Foundation and the Department of Social and Organisational Psychology, Leyden University have performed a researchproject on the effectiveness of behavior change-strategies to influence the energy use in households. An overview is presented of the different approaches to behavior change: information, the approach based on learning principles and the coercive-approach. A field experiment has been carried out in which the effects of four strategies were tested. These strategies were: 1. general information about how to conserve energy in the home, 2. weekly feedback with respect to the magnitude and financial consequences of the own energy-use, 3. weekly feedback with respect to the magnitude and financial consequences of the own energy-use compared with the use of people in comparable conditions (same houses), 4. weekly feedback (comparative) and financial incentives for reduction of energy-use. The results indicate that the individual feedback and financial incentives + feedback are effective in reducing energy-use, the comparative feedback is effective under certain conditions, the general information seems hardly effective. The results are also related to the attitudes of the residents towards energy conservation.
Authors:
Publication Date:
Nov 01, 1980
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
ESC-5
Reference Number:
ERA-08-044115; EDB-83-140683
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Microfiche only, copy does not permit paper copy reproduction
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY; ENERGY CONSERVATION; PUBLIC OPINION; SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS; HOUSEHOLDS; ENERGY CONSUMPTION; HUMAN POPULATIONS; BEHAVIOR; AGE GROUPS; ATTITUDES; CONSUMER GUIDES; CONSUMPTION RATES; COST; DATA ACQUISITION; DATA ANALYSIS; ELECTRIC POWER; EVALUATED DATA; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; FEEDBACK; FINANCIAL INCENTIVES; HOUSES; INVESTMENT; PSYCHOLOGY; PUBLIC RELATIONS; SOCIOLOGY; BUILDINGS; DATA; INFORMATION; INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS; NUMERICAL DATA; POPULATIONS; POWER; RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS; 320900* - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Education & Public Relations- (1980-); 290200 - Energy Planning & Policy- Economics & Sociology; 291000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Conservation
OSTI ID:
8132705
Research Organizations:
Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland, Petten. Bureau Energie Onderzoek Projekten; Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland (ECN), Energie Studie Centrum (ESC), Petten, Netherlands.
Country of Origin:
Netherlands
Language:
Dutch
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE83770219
Availability:
NTIS (US Sales Only), PC A12/MF A01; 2.
Submitting Site:
HEDB
Size:
Pages: 262
Announcement Date:
Mar 01, 1983

Citation Formats

Midden, C J.H. Energy conservation, how is it possible. A social-psychological research of the promotion of energy conservation by influencing the behavior of households. Netherlands: N. p., 1980. Web.
Midden, C J.H. Energy conservation, how is it possible. A social-psychological research of the promotion of energy conservation by influencing the behavior of households. Netherlands.
Midden, C J.H. 1980. "Energy conservation, how is it possible. A social-psychological research of the promotion of energy conservation by influencing the behavior of households." Netherlands.
@misc{etde_8132705,
title = {Energy conservation, how is it possible. A social-psychological research of the promotion of energy conservation by influencing the behavior of households}
author = {Midden, C J.H.}
abstractNote = {The Energy Study Centre, of the Dutch Energy Research Foundation and the Department of Social and Organisational Psychology, Leyden University have performed a researchproject on the effectiveness of behavior change-strategies to influence the energy use in households. An overview is presented of the different approaches to behavior change: information, the approach based on learning principles and the coercive-approach. A field experiment has been carried out in which the effects of four strategies were tested. These strategies were: 1. general information about how to conserve energy in the home, 2. weekly feedback with respect to the magnitude and financial consequences of the own energy-use, 3. weekly feedback with respect to the magnitude and financial consequences of the own energy-use compared with the use of people in comparable conditions (same houses), 4. weekly feedback (comparative) and financial incentives for reduction of energy-use. The results indicate that the individual feedback and financial incentives + feedback are effective in reducing energy-use, the comparative feedback is effective under certain conditions, the general information seems hardly effective. The results are also related to the attitudes of the residents towards energy conservation.}
place = {Netherlands}
year = {1980}
month = {Nov}
}