Effects of mixed normative feedback strategies on residents' energy conservation in shared spaces

• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.113893
• Publication Date: 2024-01-08T17:13:43Z
• Authors: Jiaolan Zhu; Jie Li; Ping Liu; Yongtao Shang; Zhikun Ding; Md Morshed Alam
• Keywords: Normative social influence

Normative feedback has been shown to be effective in reducing energy use, but its impact is often temporary rather than sustained. To address this issue, mixed normative strategies have proposed as a potential solution for achieving more and lasting savings. However, the effectiveness of these can vary significantly depending on combinatory choices social contexts which they are implemented. Despite benefits strategies, it currently unclear effectively sustainably promote conservation among residents shared spaces. gap, study designed three conducted 28-week field-controlled experiment assess their motivating dorms save electricity. The Difference-in-Difference analysis was employed evaluate effectiveness. results showed that strategy mixing with group-contrast exhibited greatest savings, an average 12.93 % after 5 weeks 8.75 12 weeks. combining instruction-based information failed generate significant savings short term, inclusion self-contrast resulted 7.73 reduction consumption. Compared single feedback, sustained were withdrawn. energy-saving effect also found decrease over time at slower rate feedback. Therefore, further investigation necessary ensure long-term These findings provide valuable insights recommendations how use motivate conserve spaces, including need consider choices, intervention duration, contexts.