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The Rebound Effect in Air Conditioner Usage: An Empirical Analysis of Japanese Individuals' Behaviors

Author

Listed:
  • Minoru Morita

    (Faculty of Regional Policy, Takasaki City University of Economics, 1300 Kaminamie-machi Takasaki-city, Gunnma 3700801, Japan)

  • Kazuyuki Iwata

    (Faculty of Economics, Matsuyama University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan.)

  • Toshi H. Arimura

    (Faculty of Political Science and Economics & Research Institute for Environmental Economics and Management (RIEEM), Waseda University, 1-6-1 Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8050, Japan.)

Abstract

Many studies have empirically examined to what extent energy efficiency improvement causes rebound effects for various products. Energy efficiency improvement potentially induces behavioral changes resulting in a rebound effect. However, a limited number of studies have addressed what kind of behavioral changes the energy efficiency improvement of appliances can cause. For example, the energy efficiency improvement of air conditioners can induce a change in the room temperature setting. This paper examines whether the energy efficiency improvement of air conditioners impedes energy-saving behaviors. Specifically, using a Japanese household survey, we examined the energy-saving behaviors related to air conditioner usage: 1) setting the room temperature at 28℃ or higher in summer, 2) reducing unnecessary power consumption and 3) cleaning the filters. We found that energy efficiency improvements reduce the probability of the behavior of setting air conditioner temperatures at 28℃ or more by approximately 25–45% during summer, while they have no impacts on the reduction of unnecessary air conditioner usage or filter cleaning. This finding implies that energy efficiency improvements may counteract the energy-saving behaviors of the temperature setting, resulting in a rebound effect. Thus, we clarified a mechanism of the rebound effect in the case of air conditioners.

Suggested Citation

  • Minoru Morita & Kazuyuki Iwata & Toshi H. Arimura, 2021. "The Rebound Effect in Air Conditioner Usage: An Empirical Analysis of Japanese Individuals' Behaviors," RIEEM Discussion Paper Series 2102, Research Institute for Environmental Economics and Management, Waseda University.
    • Handle: RePEc:was:dpaper:2102
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • 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
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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