Better neighbours and basic knowledge: a field experiment on the role of non-pecuniary incentives on energy consumption

SSEE Research Fellow, Dr Robert Metcalfe, gave a talk on his recent work in November 2011.

Dr Robert Metcalfe

Seminar Summary: There has been increasing attention in academic and political circles on how to reduce people’s energy consumption. There has been some evidence that other people’s energy consumption can impact on individual energy consumption. Dr Metcalfe has been using a natural field experiment in London with a homogenous housing stock, to find that social norms mainly change behaviour when information about basic knowledge is provided about behavioural change. The initial effect size of norms with basic information is more than double that of only norms – around a 9% reduction. He also finds some heterogeneous effects, in that asset poor and younger head of households are more likely to reduce their energy consumption with social norms and basic knowledge.

Dr Robert Metcalfe Biography