Bridging the electricity saving intention-behavior gap: A German field experiment with a smart meter website. (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mack, Birgit; Tampe-Mai, Karolin; Kouros, Jens; Roth, Frederick; Taube, Oliver; Diesch, Eugen
• Is Part Of: Energy research & social science. Volume 53(2019)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 46
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Electricity saving -- Smart meter interfaces supported action planning -- Commitment -- Process monitoring; Power resources -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2019.01.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-6296

Abstract

Abstract: We investigated whether a combination of prompted commitment, implementation information, and guided process monitoring would facilitate bridging the intention-behavior gap in electricity saving. In a neighborhood of new housing, user interaction with a smart meter web portal was analyzed and the effect of portal usage on electricity consumption was evaluated. The information architecture of the web portal was designed following principles derived from a stage model of self-regulated behavioral change. The design focused on prompting commitment to saving tips and supporting their implementation. Users that committed themselves to at least one saving tip were higher in pre-baseline goal intention than users that did not. The act of committing to saving tips, together with continued self-monitoring of the process of tip implementation, was predictive of a significant saving effect. Thus, for motivated users techniques inducing commitment to action and guiding towards implementation of the action plan seem effective in generating electricity savings.