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Journal ArticleDOI

Energy efficiency and consumption — the rebound effect — a survey

TL;DR: In this paper, a review of some of the relevant literature from the US offers definitions and identifies sources including direct, secondary, and economy-wide sources and concludes that the range of estimates for the size of the rebound effect is very low to moderate.
About: This article is published in Energy Policy.The article was published on 2000-06-01. It has received 1867 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Rebound effect (conservation) & Energy consumption.
Citations
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Book ChapterDOI
10 Jul 2017
TL;DR: Investigation of the potential of using serious games to assess the rebound effect of residential energy efficiency improvements used a game in which participants play home owners who manage their households in terms of energy consumption and showed differences between appliances.
Abstract: Residential energy efficiency improvements often have a smaller effect than expected. Although there is agreement on the existence of this effect, called the rebound effect, there is no agreement on the size of the effect. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of using serious games to assess this effect. We used a game in which participants play home owners who manage their households in terms of energy consumption. Results of experiments with 50 players showed signs of the rebound effect when players with a low efficiency house reduced their energy consumption more than players with a high efficiency house. In addition, some issues related to previous studies were addressed, such as the possibility to perform an ex-ante assessment and to conduct the study in a controlled environment. Calculations of the size of the rebound effect depended on the approach used to determine the expected effect and showed differences between appliances.

2 citations

01 Apr 2014
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the management and reporting of energy consumption at Stellenbosch University (SU) and found that the use of feedback alone would not achieve energy savings to the desired extent.
Abstract: Due to rising energy costs, there is a growing need to reduce energy consumption (limiting greenhouse gas emissions) and reduce electricity demand (as supply capacity is not keeping up with the increased demand), and their resulting financial impact. This research study investigated the management and reporting of energy consumption at the Stellenbosch University (SU). When considering the three pillars of sustainability (economic, social and environment), the impact of energy usage is high on both financial and natural resources. The research focused on the impact of regular feedback encouraging behavioural change to enable saving of the energy resource, namely electricity, that is becoming more scarce and costly. The interview results correlated with various studies proving that the context and frequency of updated energy consumption information influence behaviour. Peer networks and pressure also contribute towards an energy-saving attitude. Certain barriers to energy conservation were identified; these include lack of control experienced by the Faculty Managers over equipment installed, as well as a shortage of capital funding. The main obstacles at the residences are lack of upgrading capital, inadequate feedback relating to energy consumption and improper enforcement of policies regarding the usage of certain equipment in dormitory rooms. Certain limitations of the study, for example the number of energy meters, made it difficult to prove beyond doubt to what extent feedback influenced the reduced energy consumption. Information campaigns ran parallel with technological interventions, making it difficult to distinguish the impact of each separately. However, it was established that the use of feedback alone would not achieve energy savings to the desired extent. In conclusion, regular feedback creates awareness, which in turn contributes towards a more energy-conscious culture.

2 citations

Posted Content
TL;DR: In this paper, a factor demand model is applied incorporating an asymmetric energy price response, which implies that firms respond more strongly to energy price increases than to energy prices decreases, and the results indicate that the rebound effect is considerable in these industries.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the direct rebound effect poten-tially prevailing in energy intense industries. The rebound effect repre-sents economic mechanisms that will offset energy savings from energy efficiency improvements. For this purpose, a factor demand model is applied incorporating an asymmetric energy price response. Asymmetric prices imply that firms respond more strongly to energy price increases than to energy price decreases. In the empirical model we use a firm level, unbalanced panel covering the years 2001 to 2012 and four major Swedish energy-intensive industries; pulp and paper, iron and steel, chemical, and mining. The result indicates that the rebound effect is considerable in these industries. To mitigate this effect, the results sug-gest that policies stimulating an increase in energy efficiency should be combined with a raise in energy taxes.

2 citations

Peer Review
01 Jun 2022
TL;DR: In spring 2022, the German federal government agreed on a set of measures that aim at reducing households' financial burden resulting from a recent price increase, especially in energy and mobility as discussed by the authors .
Abstract: In spring 2022, the German federal government agreed on a set of measures that aim at reducing households’ financial burden resulting from a recent price increase, especially in energy and mobility. These measures include among others, a nation-wide public transport ticket for 9 EUR per month and a fuel tax cut that reduces fuel prices by more than 15 %. In transportation research this is an almost unprecedented behavioral experiment. It allows to study not only behavioral responses in mode choice and induced demand but also to assess the effectiveness of transport policy instruments. We observe this natural experiment with a three-wave survey and an app-based travel diary on a sample of hundreds of participants as well as an analysis of traffic counts. In this first report, we inform about the study design, recruiting and initial participation of study participants. ar X iv :2 20 6. 00 39 6v 1 [ ec on .G N ] 1 J un 2 02 2 A PREPRINT JUNE 2, 2022

2 citations

Book ChapterDOI
Horace Herring1
01 Jan 2007
TL;DR: In this article, the authors look at the historic failure of this approach to reduce consumption and then at how we might do better, and the simple message is that achieving reductions in energy use and consequent greenhouse gas emissions is not simply a matter of technology.
Abstract: While the previous chapter has presented technical solutions to reducing energy use, this chapter first looks at the historic failure of this approach to reduce consumption and then at how we might do better. The simple message is that achieving reductions in energy use, and consequent greenhouse gas emissions, is not simply a matter of technology. What also matters is how we use the technology and what our expectations of it are. This can be illustrated by an example.

2 citations

References
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Book
01 Jan 1980
TL;DR: Deaton and Muellbauer as mentioned in this paper introduced generations of students to the economic theory of consumer behaviour and used it in applied econometrics, including consumer index numbers, household characteristics, demand, and household welfare comparisons.
Abstract: This classic text has introduced generations of students to the economic theory of consumer behaviour. Written by 2015 Nobel Laureate Angus Deaton and John Muellbauer, the book begins with a self-contained presentation of the basic theory and its use in applied econometrics. These early chapters also include elementary extensions of the theory to labour supply, durable goods, the consumption function, and rationing. The rest of the book is divided into three parts. In the first of these the authors discuss restrictions on choice and aggregation problems. The next part consists of chapters on consumer index numbers; household characteristics, demand, and household welfare comparisons; and social welfare and inequality. The last part extends the coverage of consumer behaviour to include the quality of goods and household production theory, labour supply and human capital theory, the consumption function and intertemporal choice, the demand for durable goods, and choice under uncertainty.

3,952 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an industrial demand for energy is essentially a derived demand: the firm's demand for the energy is an input, derived from demand for a firm's output, which is an output.
Abstract: Industrial demand for energy is essentially a derived demand: the firm's demand for energy is an input is derived from demand for the firm's output. Inputs other than energy typically also enter the firm's production process. Since firms tend to choose that bundle of inputs which minimized the total cost of producing a giving level of output, the derived demand for inputs, including energy, depends on the level of output, the submitions possibilies among inputs allow by production technology, and the relative prices of all inputs.

1,422 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a model of individual behavior in the purchase and utilization of energy-using durables is presented, where the tradeoff between capital costs for more energy efficient appliances and operating costs for the appliances is emphasized.
Abstract: This article presents a model of individual behavior in the purchase and utilization of energy-using durables. The tradeoff between capital costs for more energy efficient appliances and operating costs for the appliances is emphasized. Using data on both the purchase and utilization of room air conditioners, the model is applied to a sample of households. The utilization equation indicates a relatively low price elasticity. The purchase equation, based on a discrete choice model, demonstrates that individuals do trade off capital costs and expected operating costs. The results also show that individuals use a discount rate of about 20 percent in making the tradeoff decision and that the discount rate varies inversely with income.

1,361 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that the indiscriminate use of mandated standards will backfire, but a mix of selective standards and reliance on prices as a restraint can be effective.
Abstract: Regulations which mandate appliance efficiency standards may be based on calculations which exaggerate the potential energy savings. Improved efficiency can, in fact, increase demand enough to be counterproductive unless the standards are applied selectively. As appliances improve, they are used more, new stock is demanded, and the demand for and use of related equipment increases. The policy implications of these empirical studies are that the indiscriminate use of mandated standards will backfire, but a mix of selective standards and reliance on prices as a restraint can be effective. 11 references, 5 figures, 2 tables. (DCK)

802 citations

Posted Content
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a detailed study of automobile demand and use, presenting forecasts based on the powerful new techniques of qualitative choice analysis and standard regression techniques, which are combined to analyze situations that neither alone can accurately forecast.
Abstract: This book addresses two significant research areas in an interdependent fashion. It is first of all a comprehensive but concise text that covers the recently developed and widely applicable methods of qualitative choice analysis, illustrating the general theory through simulation models of automobile demand and use. It is also a detailed study of automobile demand and use, presenting forecasts based on these powerful new techniques. The book develops the general principles that underlie qualitative choice models that are now being applied in numerous fields in addition to transportation, such as housing, labor, energy, communications, and criminology. The general form, derivation, and estimation of qualitative choice models are explained, and the major models - logit, probit, and GEV - are discussed in detail. And continuous/discrete models are introduced. In these, qualitative choice methods and standard regression techniques are combined to analyze situations that neither alone can accurately forecast. Summarizing previous research on auto demand, the book shows how qualitative choice methods can be used by applying them to specific auto-related decisions as the aggregate of individuals' choices. The simulation model that is constructed is a significant improvement over older models, and should prove more useful to agencies and organizations requiring accurate forecasting of auto demand and use for planning and policy development. The book concludes with an actual case study based on a model designed for the investigations of the California Energy Commission.

726 citations