The misleading effect of energy efficiency information on perceived energy friendliness of electric goods

Waechter, Signe; Sütterlin, Bernadette; Siegrist, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.01.011

Cited by 56 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Examples of this are related, e.g., to the emission profile of different driving behaviors (Rangaraju et al 2015;Girod et al 2013b) LCIA Impact assessment Behavior-related aspects that may imply higher or lower likelihood to be exposed in the use phase. Indeed, examples exist on for variability in exposure, exposure duration, use of preventive measures e.g., in the indoor impact assessment under development within LCA (Jolliet et al 2015;Golsteijn et al 2014) Communications Presentation of LCA results, labeling BS may help in identifying the message and most effective ways to deliver communication of LCA results (see for example Waechter et al 2015). This may also support understanding how the LCA results are perceived (Tobler et al 2011) and or how LCA-based labeling could be more effective (Röös and Tjärnemo 2011) Potential improvement Feedback to ecodesign BS may support the decision on whether (and how) improving the products (e.g., default options as the greener one, improving users' awareness through feedback).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumers and their behavior: state of the art in behavioral science supporting use phase modeling in LCA and ecodesign

Sorrentino

Woelbert

Sala

2016

Int J Life Cycle Assess

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Purpose Life cycle thinking and assessment require a holistic approach to the evaluation of product supply chains. An assessment from raw material extraction to end of life of any products is based on modeling a wide number of aspects and options, e.g., at technological, geographical, and temporal levels. Since the use phase is one of the most contributing life cycle stages for some products (e.g., appliance, housing, cars), a robust modeling of this stage is fundamental. Several attempts to better modeling use-phase have been performed; however, so far no systematic study is available on how to integrate behavioral science (BS) insights into LCA. This is even more important when the impact of the product under consideration is strongly determined by the use phase relatively to other life cycle stages. The aim of this paper is to explore how behavioral science has been used to date and how BS can contribute towards more robust modeling of use phase in LCA and as basis for a behavior-driven ecodesign. Methods We identified the key areas in which LCA and ecodesign may benefit from integrating insights from behavioral science and developing a conceptual model. Both robust modeling and the design of behavior change interventions rest on a sound understanding of behavior in the specific context of interest though empirical investigation. Hence, we reviewed literature on behavioral science and introduce key drivers of human behavior that are relevant in the context of use phase modeling and ecodesign. We provide examples where these were applied to facilitate the integration of BS elements by practitioners. Results and discussion Consumer's behavior is increasingly recognized as one of the drivers of overall environmental impact of a product, and some examples of use of BS for LCA are available in literature. We suggest that behavioral science can be useful in the context of life cycle assessment in two ways: measuring behavior and assessing potential and means for changing behavior. Specifically, insights and methods from behavioral sciences could be applied for assessing variability of consumer behavior, understanding leverages for behavioral changes, and possible rebound effects. Conclusions This insight may help to model the use phase more accurately, to identify realistic scenarios, and to support behavior-driven eco-innovation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumers and their behavior: state of the art in behavioral science supporting use phase modeling in LCA and ecodesign

Sorrentino

Woelbert

Sala

2016

Int J Life Cycle Assess

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“…For example, where 5-year consumption cost labels, as presented in this paper, also displayed on these fridges, the costs would range from €174 to €396, despite the fact that they are all within the same A+ category. Such potential for misleading the energy-reducing decisions of buyers has been recently highlighted by Waechter et al (2015). Households therefore may respond to lifetime energy costs by either improving efficiency or reducing size, or both.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Energy Cost Labelling on Appliance Purchasing Decisions: Trial Results from Ireland

2015

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Household failure to minimize the total costs of energy-consuming investments has become known as the Benergy efficiency gap.^This paper explores if this is partly the result of imperfect information related to future energy costs. We test this hypothesis by adding 5-year consumption cost labels to the tumble dryer lineup of four outlets of an Irish electrical retailer. Although we observe a reduction in the average energy consumption of dryer sales, our analysis does not show a statistically significant effect. However, we highlight a number of experimental limitations in our trial which potentially undermine this treatment effect. In addition, mixed findings from previous research suggest that further trials should be conducted before Blifetime^energy cost labelling is removed from potential policy options to increase the energy efficiency of household appliances.

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“…According to Waechter et al (2015), the energy label draws attention towards energy information in general, but its effect on the consumer's actual product choice seems to be low. Some explanations may be that the label provides energy efficiency information under the best possible conditions but fails to describe actual energy consumption under the conditions that are customary to the user's needs.…”

Section: User Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rescaling the energy label for washing machines: an opportunity to bring technology development and consumer behaviour closer together

2019

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Washing machines have in recent years incorporated programmes that are very energy-and waterefficient, but this entails a long programme duration, often beyond 4 h. These are also the programmes that the manufactures use to define, test and declare the overall water and energy efficiency of the machines. In response to these developments, there is evidence that consumers are reluctant to use excessively lengthy programmes, even if they are aware that the programmes are more energy-efficient.This paper analyses this divergence of programme offer and programme use, which jeopardises the energy efficiency policy objectives for these appliances in the European Union (EU). The paper explores several policy measures to address this divergence, discussed in the context of the revision of the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling regulations that apply to washing machines in the EU.Three different measures are studied: the provision of information about the programme duration on the energy label, the inclusion of time as an intrinsic parameter of the energy efficiency index calculations and the setting of a programme duration cap.The paper concludes that introducing programme duration as an additional parameter of the energy efficiency index would result in the highest energy savings. However, this scenario is associated with significant uncertainties since competition among the manufacturers for a better energy label classification will not solely focus on energy efficiency aspects, and the outcome of such competition is unclear. The other two measures investigated are less effective but would also deliver savings. A programme duration cap would bring energy savings if consumers are aware of their existence and select the now shorter yet energy-efficient programmes more often. The provision of programme duration information on the energy label would also be effective but requires that consumers are able to correctly understand it.

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The misleading effect of energy efficiency information on perceived energy friendliness of electric goods

Cited by 56 publications

References 28 publications

Consumers and their behavior: state of the art in behavioral science supporting use phase modeling in LCA and ecodesign

Consumers and their behavior: state of the art in behavioral science supporting use phase modeling in LCA and ecodesign

The Effects of Energy Cost Labelling on Appliance Purchasing Decisions: Trial Results from Ireland

Rescaling the energy label for washing machines: an opportunity to bring technology development and consumer behaviour closer together

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