Switching Off: Energy Saving Goals Outshine Incentives—Evidence from a Field Experiment

Natalia Borzino, Benjamin Hiepler, Kathrin Schmitt, Jan Schmitz (), Renate Schubert and Verena Tiefenbeck
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Natalia Borzino: ETH Zurich
Benjamin Hiepler: Radboud University
Jan Schmitz: Radboud University
Renate Schubert: ETH Zurich
Verena Tiefenbeck: FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg

Environmental & Resource Economics, 2025, vol. 88, issue 6, No 1, 1499-1540

Abstract: Abstract Feedback interventions are a promising tool for promoting household energy conservation and addressing climate change. This study examines whether their effectiveness improves with incentivized energy saving goals through a field experiment involving 422 Singaporean households over eight months. All treatment groups received tailored feedback reports, energy saving goals, and tips. Two groups also received additional incentives: monetary rewards or environmental donations. Households receiving only feedback, goals and savings tips reduced electricity use by 16% compared to the control group, but those offered additional monetary or environmental incentives achieved no further savings. Notabl the effects persisted marginally post-intervention in the goal treatment. These results indicate that low-cost behavioral strategies like feedback, savings tips and goal setting can be as effective as costly incentives, providing a scalable and economical pathway for energy conservation initiatives.

Keywords: Energy conservation; Incentives; Feedback; Goal-setting; Field experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 D91 Q40 Q50 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10640-025-00973-3

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