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The effect of providing free autopoweroff plugs to households on electricity consumption - A field experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Carsten Lynge Jensen

    (Institute of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen)

  • Lars Gårn Hansen

    (Institute of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen)

  • Troels Fjordbak

    (IT-Energy)

  • Erik Gudbjerg

    (Lokalenergi)

Abstract

Experimental evidence of the effect of providing cheap energy saving technology to households is sparse. We present results from a field experiment in which autopoweroff plugs are provided free of charge to randomly selected households. We use propensity score matching to find treatment effects on metered electricity consumption for different types of households. We find effects for single men and couples without children, while we find no effect for single women and households with children. We suggest that this could be because of differences in saving potential (e.g. some households do not have appliances where using a plug is relevant), differences in the skills relevant for installing the technology and differences in the willingness to spend time and effort on installation. We conclude that targeting interventions at more responsive households, and tailoring interventions to target groups, can increase efficiency of programmes.

Suggested Citation

  • Carsten Lynge Jensen & Lars Gårn Hansen & Troels Fjordbak & Erik Gudbjerg, 2011. "The effect of providing free autopoweroff plugs to households on electricity consumption - A field experiment," IFRO Working Paper 2011/10, University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:foi:wpaper:2011_10
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    File URL: http://okonomi.foi.dk/workingpapers/WPpdf/WP2011/WP_2011_10_autopoweroff.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Tewathia, Nidhi, 2015. "Explaining the Awareness and Attitude of the Delhi Households in context of Electricity Consumption," MPRA Paper 64854, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    autopoweroff plugs; treatment effect; energy consumption; types of households;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices

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