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Oops, I forgot the light on! The cognitive mechanisms supporting the execution of energy saving behaviors

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  • Corradi, Nicola
  • Priftis, Konstantinos
  • Jacucci, Giulio
  • Gamberini, Luciano

Abstract

Energy conservation and related environmental issues are of increasing interest for psychological research and intervention. In the present study, we investigated the cognitive abilities that are necessary in order for people to implement energy saving behaviors in their everyday life routines. We explored the relation between sustained attention, processing speed, and working memory and the participants’ involvement in cognitively effortful energy saving behaviors. Results showed that the efficiency of the aforementioned cognitive mechanisms was positively related to the frequency of saving behaviors that required monitoring, integration, and inhibition to be implemented in daily behaviors and routines. The efficiency of the cognitive mechanisms that underlie our ability to implement energy saving actions might explain part of the gap between energy saving intention and energy wasting behavior. Ergonomic design of domestic appliances – reducing the cognitive demands of energy saving behaviors’ – and compensatory training of the cognitive functions moderating the execution of energy saving behaviors can contribute to reduce energy consumptions.

Suggested Citation

  • Corradi, Nicola & Priftis, Konstantinos & Jacucci, Giulio & Gamberini, Luciano, 2013. "Oops, I forgot the light on! The cognitive mechanisms supporting the execution of energy saving behaviors," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 88-96.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:34:y:2013:i:c:p:88-96
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2012.11.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Galassi, Veronica & Madlener, Reinhard, 2016. "Shall I Open the Window? An Experiment on Effort and Habits in Thermal-Comfort Adjustment Practices," FCN Working Papers 19/2016, E.ON Energy Research Center, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN).
    2. Shen, Meng & Lu, Yujie & Wei, Kua Harn & Cui, Qingbin, 2020. "Prediction of household electricity consumption and effectiveness of concerted intervention strategies based on occupant behaviour and personality traits," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    3. Chun-Hsi Vivian Chen & Yu-Cheng Chen, 2021. "Assessment of Enhancing Employee Engagement in Energy-Saving Behavior at Workplace: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, February.
    4. Sylwia Słupik & Joanna Kos-Łabędowicz & Joanna Trzęsiok, 2021. "Are You a Typical Energy Consumer? Socioeconomic Characteristics of Behavioural Segmentation Representatives of 8 European Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-28, September.
    5. Šćepanović, Sanja & Warnier, Martijn & Nurminen, Jukka K., 2017. "The role of context in residential energy interventions: A meta review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1146-1168.
    6. Pratik Mochi & Kartik Pandya & Joao Soares & Zita Vale, 2023. "Optimizing Power Exchange Cost Considering Behavioral Intervention in Local Energy Community," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-15, May.
    7. Al-Shemmeri, Tarik & Naylor, Lucy, 2017. "Energy saving in UK FE colleges: The relative importance of the socio-economic groups and environmental attitudes of employees," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 1130-1143.
    8. Sylwia Słupik & Joanna Kos-Łabędowicz & Joanna Trzęsiok, 2021. "Energy-Related Behaviour of Consumers from the Silesia Province (Poland)—Towards a Low-Carbon Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-23, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Household energy conservation; Cognitive failure; Executive functions; Attention; Working memory; PASAT;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General
    • Q30 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - General

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