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Inefficiencies in Residential Use of Energy — A Critical Overview of Literature and Energy Efficiency Policies in the EU

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  • Broberg, Thomas
  • Kazukauskas, Andrius

Abstract

A rather large literature argues that firms and households do not always improve energy efficiency by investing in new technology even if it would be cost-effective to do so. In this paper, we review the theoretical and empirical literature on the so-called energy efficiency gap and provide a rationale for policymakers to act to improve energy efficiency. By eliminating market failures, welfare can be improved in a broad sense, including both environmental quality and material welfare. We also discuss social 'nudges' as examples of policy instruments that do not directly target any market failure in energy markets but that still may have a significant impact on energy use. Although we acknowledge the existence of the energy efficiency gap, we argue that the gap in general is overestimated as parts of it can be explained by heterogeneity in preferences and thus explained by rational choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Broberg, Thomas & Kazukauskas, Andrius, 2015. "Inefficiencies in Residential Use of Energy — A Critical Overview of Literature and Energy Efficiency Policies in the EU," International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics, now publishers, vol. 8(2), pages 225-279, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:now:jirere:101.00000070
    DOI: 10.1561/101.00000070
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Dahlqvist & Patrik S derholm, 2019. "Industrial Energy Use, Management Practices and Price Signals: The Case of Swedish Process Industry," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 9(3), pages 30-45.
    2. Blasch, Julia & Filippini, Massimo & Kumar, Nilkanth, 2019. "Boundedly rational consumers, energy and investment literacy, and the display of information on household appliances," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 39-58.
    3. Blasch, Julia & Boogen, Nina & Filippini, Massimo & Kumar, Nilkanth, 2017. "Explaining electricity demand and the role of energy and investment literacy on end-use efficiency of Swiss households," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(S1), pages 89-102.
    4. Dolšak, Janez & Hrovatin, Nevenka & Zorić, Jelena, 2022. "Estimating the efficiency in overall energy consumption: Evidence from Slovenian household-level data," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    5. Broberg, Thomas & Egüez, Alejandro, 2018. "Blame it on the owner — Ownership and energy performance of multi-dwelling buildings," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 108-119.
    6. Broberg, Thomas & Persson, Lars, 2016. "Is our everyday comfort for sale? Preferences for demand management on the electricity market," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 24-32.
    7. Asmare, Fissha & Giedraitis, Vincentas & Jaraitė, Jūratė & Kažukauskas, Andrius, 2023. "Energy-related financial literacy and retrofits of Soviet-era apartment buildings: The case of Lithuania," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    8. Boogen, Nina & Daminato, Claudio & Filippini, Massimo & Obrist, Adrian, 2022. "Can information about energy costs affect consumers’ choices? Evidence from a field experiment☆," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 568-588.
    9. Broberg, Thomas & Egüez, Alejandro & Kažukauskas, Andrius, 2019. "Effects of energy performance certificates on investment: A quasi-natural experiment approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    10. Julia Blasch & Claudio Daminato, 2018. "Behavioral anomalies and energy-related individual choices: the role of status-quo bias," CER-ETH Economics working paper series 18/300, CER-ETH - Center of Economic Research (CER-ETH) at ETH Zurich.
    11. Broberg, Thomas & Kažukauskas, Andrius, 2021. "Information policies and biased cost perceptions - The case of Swedish residential energy consumption," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Energy efficiency gap; Market failures; Behavioural failures; EU policies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q38 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Government Policy (includes OPEC Policy)
    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy

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