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Reducing consumption of electricity: A field experiment in Monaco with boosts and goal setting

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  • Nathalie Lazaric

    (GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur)

  • Mira Toumi

    (GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur)

Abstract

We investigate the complementarity among different treatments which involved "boosts" (provision of information) and "goals" (ambitious or modest goals) by means of a field experiment conducted in the Principality of Monaco between December 2018 and May 2019. We collected data from 77 households in four groups: ambitious electricity reduction goal combined with information (Treatment 1), modest electricity reduction goal combined with information (Treatment 2), only information (Treatment 3), and a control group (CG). Treatments 1 and 2 increased the chances of reduced electricity consumption. We show that a modest, more realistic electricity saving goal when combined with a "boost" generates better electricity conservation performance (T2). We explore the link between behavioral strategies and the household's concern for the environment in the context of the new ecological paradigm (NEP). Our results show that treatments T1 and T2 are efficient for reducing electricity consumption only in households with high levels of environmental concern; those whose level of concern about the environment is low will not respond to any of the behavioral interventions. We provide some recommendations for the implementation of behavioral tools and "boosts".

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  • Nathalie Lazaric & Mira Toumi, 2022. "Reducing consumption of electricity: A field experiment in Monaco with boosts and goal setting," Post-Print halshs-03402212, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-03402212
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.107231
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-03402212
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    Cited by:

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    2. Grolleau, Gilles & Meunier, Luc & Mzoughi, Naoufel, 2023. "Polluting for (higher) profits: Does an economic gain influence moral judgment of environmental wrongdoings?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    3. Belaïd, Fateh & Flambard, Véronique, 2023. "Boosting buildings energy efficiency: The impact of social norms and motivational feedback," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 26-39.
    4. Della Valle, Nives & D'Arcangelo, Chiara & Faillo, Marco, 2024. "Promoting pro-environmental choices while addressing energy poverty," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    5. Cheng, Xiu & Long, Ruyin & Wu, Fan & Geng, Jichao & Yang, Jiameng, 2023. "How social interaction shapes habitual and occasional low-carbon consumption behaviors: Evidence from ten cities in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    6. Andersson, Henrik & Ouvrard, Benjamin, 2024. "Not on my plate! Using mental accounting to promote meat substitutes," TSE Working Papers 24-1547, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    7. Stelian Stancu & Anca Maria Hristea & Camelia Kailani & Denisa Elena Bala & Andreea Pernici, 2023. "Adoption of Voluntary Measures for Reducing Electricity Consumption in the REPowerEU Plan Context: A Romanian Consumer Perspective," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 25(64), pages 760-760, August.
    8. Qin, Botao & Xie, Siyuan & Xu, Chenyang, 2024. "Honor, Goal Setting, and Energy Conservation: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Student Dormitories," MPRA Paper 120869, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Ishimura, Yuichi & Shinkuma, Takayoshi & Takeuchi, Kenji & Hosoda, Eiji, 2024. "The effects of regional goal setting on household waste," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).

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    Keywords

    Boost; nudges; goal setting; electricity consumption; field experiment; environmental profile;
    All these keywords.

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