Energy saving among consumers

Difficult but doable   In the framework of the Changing Behaviour project, the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) developed a toolkit to enhance the success of energy saving programmes among consumers. Currently, such programmes seldom lead to permanent savings. The toolkit contains a step-by-step plan, practical checklists, illustrative examples and much background information for managers of energy saving projects. A second result of the research project is a list of recommendations for policy makers based on insights obtained in the project with regard to stimulating behavioural change. It may be difficult to stimulate energy efficiency among consumers, but it can be done if the right steps are taken and sufficient attention is paid to crucial elements.

The MECHanisms (Make Energy Change Happen) Toolkit is an instrument for managers of energy saving projects, available from http://mechanisms.energychange.info. Next to the step-by-step plan for setting up, implementing and evaluating projects, it also contains practical checklists, illustrative examples and much background information on the various target groups (home-owners, tenants, offices, schools, etcetera), do's and don’ts and experiences from previous projects in which the toolkit was used. MECHanisms pays particular attention to the elements that are crucial in realising long-term savings, such as the context and the involvement of the target group. In order to make a permanent change, the new behaviour of the target group also needs to be stimulated by their surroundings. 

Recommendations for policy makers
Next to advice for project managers, the Changing Behaviour project also delivered concrete recommendations for policy makers. Despite the fact that policy makers are often not directly involved in the practical implementation of energy saving projects, they do influence the factors that affect the work of the project managers. This gives them the opportunity to contribute to enhancing energy saving among consumers. The ten recommendations for policy makers have been published here. 

Practical background
Three years ago ECN started the Changing Behaviour study in collaboration with twelve European partners. In the early stages of the project an analysis was conducted of information about behavioural change found in literature and obtained from practice. Insights from various scientific disciplines (psychology, sociology and marketing) were linked to evaluations of finished energy saving projects. These insights were presented to field experts from all over Europe who are involved in realising energy saving among consumers on a daily basis. Their reactions were used as input for a step-by-step plan, which was developed for project managers. To find out if this step-by-step plan would really yield successful projects, it was subjected to testing in six pilot projects in Europe. The results of the pilot projects were used to further refine the step-by-step plan, which was subsequently translated it into MECHanisms, a toolkit for managers of energy saving projects.  

Why this study?
Governments, social organisations, consultancies, energy suppliers and housing corporations; they all initiate projects to persuade people to take shorter showers, to turn down the thermostat, to turn off the light and to wash at 30 degrees Celsius. Moreover, they also try to stimulate households into buying energy efficient products such as insulation and double glazing for their houses, more efficient household appliances, more efficient heating boilers and low-energy light bulbs. The fact that these efforts often have limited effect gave cause for initiating the European research project Changing Behaviour.

More information
Information and results of the Changing Behaviour project: http://www.energychange.info/.

The MECHanism Toolkit: http://mechanisms.energychange.info.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Ynke Feenstra at feenstra@remove-this-part-ecn.nl or +31 224 568262.  

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