Appliance energy labels and consumer heterogeneity: A latent class approach based on a discrete choice experiment in China

Donglan Zha, Guanglei Yang, Wenzhong Wang, Qunwei Wang () and Dequn Zhou

Energy Economics, 2020, vol. 90, issue C

Abstract: Given the growing concerns about environmental protection, a focus on energy label behavior is of particular public interest, as labels can communicate to consumers the sustainability of products. Based on a discrete choice experiment, we measure consumers' awareness and attitudes regarding refrigerators and washing machines. A mixed logit model is specified to quantify the attributes consumers look for when choosing the two electrical appliances. In the latent class model, four classes are observed. The results of the study reveal that the energy label program in China is effective. However, consumers do not always choose the energy efficient appliances, and their failure to do so is often related to an energy efficiency gap. Interestingly, both the largest groups for the refrigerator (33.17%) and washing machine (36.6%) tend to prefer the two electrical appliances with the lowest price. Both are foreign brands, with low energy label and larger overall capacity. Consumers are also willing to pay more for an improved energy grade label on the refrigerator (731.16 yuan) than on the washing machine (424.76 yuan). Suggestions regarding how to increase the probability of consumers choosing energy efficient appliances are also given in this paper.

Keywords: Energy label; Energy efficient appliances; Discrete choice experiment; Latent class model; Willingness to pay (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: K32 O13 P18 P48 Q41 R21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (27)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:90:y:2020:i:c:s0140988320301791

DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2020.104839

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