Switching Off: Energy Saving Goals Outshine Incentives—Evidence from a Field Experiment
Natalia Borzino, Benjamin Hiepler, Kathrin Schmitt, Jan Schmitz, Renate Schubert, Verena Tiefenbeck
Environmental and Resource Economics · 2025 · 인용 6
Abstract Feedback interventions are a promising tool for promoting household energy conservation and addressing climate change. This study examines whether their effectiveness improves with incentivized energy saving goals through a field experiment involving 422 Singaporean households over eight months. All treatment groups received tailored feedback reports, energy saving goals, and tips.
Two groups also received additional incentives: monetary rewards or environmental donations. Households receiving only feedback, goals and savings tips reduced electricity use by 16% compared to the control group, but those offered additional monetary or environmental incentives achieved no further savings. Notabl the effects persisted marginally post-intervention in the goal treatment.
These results indicate that low-cost behavioral strategies like feedback, savings tips and goal setting can be as effective as costly incentives, providing a scalable and economical pathway for energy conservation initiatives.