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Bridging the Energy Efficiency Gap: A Field Experiment on Lifetime Energy Costs and Household Appliances

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  • Steffen Kallbekken
  • Håkon Sælen
  • Erlend Hermansen

Abstract

Providing consumers with information that can lead to more energy-efficient choices can help reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions while reducing costs to consumers. A natural field experiment is conducted in collaboration with an electrical retailer to test strategies for influencing sales of household appliances. The experiment involves two product categories, fridge-freezers and tumble driers. Information on lifetime energy cost of appliances is provided through a label and training of sales staff. For fridge-freezers, the authors find no significant effects. For tumble driers, the combined treatment and training treatment reduce average energy use of tumble driers sold by 4.9% and 3.4%, respectively. The effect is strongest initially, over 12% on average for the first 3 months for the combined treatment but declines over time. The effect is significant at the 5% level for the combined treatment while not significant for sales staff training. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Steffen Kallbekken & Håkon Sælen & Erlend Hermansen, 2013. "Bridging the Energy Efficiency Gap: A Field Experiment on Lifetime Energy Costs and Household Appliances," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 36(1), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jcopol:v:36:y:2013:i:1:p:1-16
    DOI: 10.1007/s10603-012-9211-z
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