Beyond Economics: a Behavioural Approach to Energy Efficiency in Domestic Buildings

Marius Claudy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This paper argues that the moderate success of policies aiming to stimulate the uptake of Sustainable Energy Systems (SES) in the domestic sector is grounded in a poor understanding of the ‘consumer’. The predominant economic approach behind most policies assumes that improving the cost-benefit ratio of technologies via grants and subsidies and providing sufficient information will automatically incentivise householders’ to invest into SES. Yet, policymakers often neglect behavioural determinants such as attitudes, social norms or personal capabilities. Drawing on key findings from the economics, technology and behavioural literature, this paper proposes an integrated model to identify behavioural and contextual influences of SES adoption. It further highlights relationships between them and serves as a starting point to empirically research SES adoption, ultimately providing pragmatic answers to complex policy questions.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-40
JournalEuro-Asian Journal of Sustainable Energy Development Policy
Volume1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2008

Keywords

  • Sustainable Energy Systems
  • consumer
  • cost-benefit ratio
  • grants
  • subsidies
  • information
  • behavioural determinants
  • attitudes
  • social norms
  • personal capabilities
  • economics
  • technology
  • behavioural literature
  • integrated model
  • contextual influences
  • SES adoption
  • policy questions

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