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Feedback and Behavioral Intervention in Residential Energy and Resource Use: a Review

  • End-Use Efficiency (Y Wang, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

A proliferation of research has emerged in the last 20 years, and especially in the last 5 years, on how to effectively engage inhabitants in energy and resource saving behaviors in the residential context. Such conservation behavior is critically important in addressing climate change and other associated energy impacts. However, feedback and behavioral interventions face challenges in motivating behavioral change that stem from individual and social psychological factors, as well as broader social and economic problems such as split incentives.

Findings

We provide an overview of energy intervention research focusing on (1) different forms of intervention across contexts, (2) combined effects of intervention strategies, (3) consideration of residential demographics and individual characteristics, and (4) additional considerations for successful interventions.

Summary

Our review demonstrates that there is significant variation in success across interventions, and that the context, decision structures, and combinatory choices can dramatically affect an intervention. Interventions that combine feedback, motivation, high engagement, and goal setting with well-designed and frequent communication are usually more effective.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the research assistance of Amanda Sherman for parts of this paper.

Funding

This work was supported in part by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), under contract no. 32013.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA

    Stephen Bird & Lisa Legault

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  1. Stephen Bird
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  2. Lisa Legault
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Correspondence to Stephen Bird.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on End-Use Efficiency

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Bird, S., Legault, L. Feedback and Behavioral Intervention in Residential Energy and Resource Use: a Review. Curr Sustainable Renewable Energy Rep 5, 116–126 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40518-018-0106-8

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