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How to limit the rebound effect of energy efficiency policies in the housing? (Policy Brief 320 - February 2013)

How to limit the rebound effect of energy efficiency policies in the housing? (Policy Brief 320 - February 2013)

05/02/13

This note , from a collaboration between the Centre and the CRÉDOC strategic analysis, recommendations for further experiments relating behavioral incentives for energy saving home.

  • How to limit the rebound effect of energy efficiency policies in the housing?

The energy consumed in the home is in France a third of final energy consumption and CO2 emissions fifth. It is therefore a major policy fight against climate change: the Roadmap for the ecological transition government and to provide the best energy standards one million new homes and older each year.

But improving the energy efficiency of buildings and appliances will not achieve this target consumer behavior indeed undermine the expected energy savings, according to the phenomenon of "rebound effect" (cancellation of gains energy performance enabled by progress due to increased use of resources), which can cancel 5% ... 50% of these gains.

New incentives "behavioral" inspired by social psychology will be required: Return of real-time information on the consumption of home, community challenges ... Foreign experiences have shown that to be effective, these incentives should be transparent vis-à- vis consumers, implemented with local communities and mobilized in addition to various measures - standards, price signals and information campaigns. These new instruments also raise questions of acceptability and effectiveness in the long term. In response, the State and local authorities should therefore continue to support experiments on the evolution of behavior.

Summary

  • The behavioral incentive, an opportunity for policies to encourage energy savings?
  • Redirect energy behavior is particularly difficult
  • French five experiments that mobilize different behavioral incentives to encourage domestic electricity savings
  • Authors: Blandine Barreau, Sustainable Development Department, Centre for Strategic Analysis, Anne Dujin, department evaluation of public policies, CRÉDOC in collaboration with Marie Védie

Keywords : behavioral incentives, nudges, energy savings, green behavior, consumption, domestic energy, housing, electricity, energy.

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