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

• Published in: Ecological economics Vol. 191; p. 107231
• Main Authors: Lazaric, Nathalie, Toumi, Mira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: behavior; Boost; Business & Economics; climate; Earth and Related Environmental Sciences; Economics and Finance; Electricity consumption; energy-conservation; Environmental profile; Environmental Sciences & Ecology; feedback; Field experiment; framework; Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap; Goal setting; Humanities and Social Sciences; impact; interventions; Nudges; policy; Nudges; Environmental profile; Boost; Goal setting; Electricity consumption; Field experiment; electricity consumption; goal setting; field experiment; nudges; environmental profile
• ISSN: 0921-8009; 1873-6106
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.107231

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”. •Energy saving goals combined with boosts generate energy conservation.•Modest energy saving goals generate better energy conservation performance.•Energy saving goals combined with boosts perform well with individuals highly concerned by the environment.•Goal setting and boosts implementation should target specific individuals' category.