In this post I will summarise the review paper "A review of intervention studies aimed at household energy conversation" by Abrahamse et al.
Interventions are divided into two categories: antecedent interventions and consequence interventions. The latter intervention type is based on the presumption that the availability of positive or negative outcomes will influence behaviour. The former intervention strategies aim to influence the underlying determinants of behaviour, which in turn are assumed to affect behaviour.
Antecedent interventions: Commitment, Goal Setting, Information and Modeling.
- Commitment: An oral or written pledge or promise to change behaviour (e.g. conserve energy).
- Goal Setting: A goal can be set by experimenters or by the households (e.g. reduce energy use by %5).
- Information: General or specific information about energy-related problems or solutions are used to encourage energy conservation behaviours (e.g. workshops, mass media campaigns and home audits).
- Modeling: This method is based on providing examples of recommended behaviours which are understandable, relevant, meaningful and rewarding to the households.
Consequence interventions: Feedback and Reward.
- Feedback: It consists of providing households with the information about energy consumption or energy savings (e.g. daily feedback, comparative feedback).
- Reward: Monetary rewards are used as motivators for energy conservation.
The effectiveness of the interventions is increased when antecedent and consequence interventions are combined and used together (e.g. goal setting with feedback).
