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How important is information format? An experimental study of home energy audit programs

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  • Wesley A. Magat
  • John W. Payne
  • Peter F. Brucato

Abstract

Among alternative regulatory responses, information provision programs are receiving increasing attention despite the decidedly mixed evidence about their effectiveness. This paper provides detailed experimental evidence to demonstrate that for one important example of an information program, the use of energy audits to stimulate residential energy conservation, the effectiveness of the program is highly sensitive to the information processing behavior of the users of the information. Simple changes in the format of the information provided to homeowners produced marked improvements in the efficiency of consumer choices. The study illustrates Stern's conclusion in a recent issue of this journal that laboratory experimentation provides a useful alternative to model-based analysis of natural experiments, especially for policy design issues involving information acquisition and processing. The paper also offers conclusions about improving the effectiveness of home energy audits, as well as the entire class of information provision programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Wesley A. Magat & John W. Payne & Peter F. Brucato, 1986. "How important is information format? An experimental study of home energy audit programs," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 6(1), pages 20-34.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jpamgt:v:6:y:1986:i:1:p:20-34
    DOI: 10.1002/pam.4050060103
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    Cited by:

    1. Novikova, Aleksandra & Amecke, Hermann & Neuhoff, Karsten & Stelmakh, Kateryna & Kiss, Bernadett & Rohde, Clemens & Dunkelberg, Elisa & Weiß, Julia & Matschoss, Kaisa & Darby, Sarah, 2011. "Information tools for energy demand reduction in existing residential buildings," EconStor Research Reports 65873, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    2. Novikova, Aleksandra & Amecke, Hermann & Neuhoff, Karsten & Stelmakh, Kateryna & Kiss, Bernadett & Rohde, Clemens & Dunkelberg, Elisa & Matschoss, Kaisa & Darby, Sarah, 2011. "Informationsinstrumente zur Förderung von Energieeinsparungen im Wohngebäudebestand," EconStor Research Reports 65867, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    3. Estiri, Hossein, 2014. "Building and household X-factors and energy consumption at the residential sector," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 178-184.
    4. Jin Jianjun, 2010. "Assessing the Effects of Information Provision on Policy Decisions Related to Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise in Zhejiang Province, China," EEPSEA Research Report rr2010114, Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA), revised Nov 2010.

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