Dealing with Rebound Effects

Energy efficiency has failed to deliver its promised savings. This is mainly because of the rebound effect. Whilst there has been some energy savings on the micro level (rebound is less than 100%), on the macro level energy use has continued to increase despite large increases in energy efficiency. This is because we choose to convert the financial savings from energy efficiency into greater consumption. However energy efficiency still has an important role, in that we can use its financial gains to fund renewable energy sources. This requires an integrated approach, whereby consumers are sold a package of efficiency and domestic renewable energy measures, often termed micro-generation. This paper first outlines the rebound effect and an anthropological approach to energy consumption that focuses on values of comfort, convenience and cleanliness as the drivers for consumer energy demand. It then presents ongoing research from the Open University on the feasibility and popularity of low-carbon living in the UK. It concludes that the emphasis should be on low carbon life-styles for communities rather low-carbon houses for individuals

Energy Utopianism and the rise of the anti-nuclear power movement in the UK

This thesis is about the growth of the anti nuclear power movement in the UK from 1955 to 1979. It seeks to explore why it emerged at the time and in the form it did. It challenges some of the existing histories and provides new explanations as to how and why, and indeed when the anti-nuclear movement emerged. It is not a policy history, but a history of activism based on accounts collected from the contemporary literature and from the activists. Its hypothesis is that an anti-nuclear power movement emerged in LTK in the 1970s because of long standing concerns of a minority over the dangers of 'atomic energy' and the continuity of opposition to the building of nuclear power stations. The divisions within the nuclear establishment over reactor choice in UK (and radiation and safety standards in US) gave new radical groups- the environmentalists - an opportunity to build a movement using new tactics of protest. The first part gives a historical account of early criticism, late 1950s protest at public inquiries, and campaigns over nuclear power from 1965 to 1979, and is based on literature surveys, interviews with anti-nuclear campaigners and research on archive material. The second part, mainly theoretical, identifies and discusses what I consider the key concepts of 'the environmental impulse', 'nuclear fear' and 'energy utopianism'. The thesis illustrates the diversity and continuity of anti-nuclear protestors, and is used to make some generalisations about their motivations and tactics, and the likelihood of future protests over new energy technologies

Consumer adoption and use of household renewable energy technologies, Report DIG-10

Household adoption of low and zero carbon (LZC) technologies is a key element of the UK Government’s energy and climate strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of homes, which in 2005 were directly responsible for 28% of total UK carbon dioxide emissions (DTI, 2005). However, despite UK government support for renewable energy technologies and microgeneration (the small scale production of heat and/or electricity from a low carbon source), through grant schemes, such as the Clear Skies and Low Carbon Buildings Programme, household adoption of technologies, such as solar thermal water heating, solar photovoltaics (PV) and biomass heating systems, microwind, microchip and heat pumps, has been slow. There is therefore significant potential for market growth and carbon saving if the barriers to widespread consumer adoption of microgeneration and renewable energy technologies can be overcome. This report gives the results of a large study carried out by the Design Innovation Group at the Open University (OU) in collaboration with the National Energy Foundation (NEF) and the Energy Saving Trust (EST), that aimed to investigate in detail the drivers and barriers underlying UK householders’ decisions to adopt or decide against adopting selected renewable energy technologies (solar thermal water heating, solar photovoltaics (PV), microwind turbines and wood-burning stoves), and their experiences and use of the systems once installed. Data was gathered during 2006 via an online questionnaire linked to the websites of the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and a BBC/OU television series on climate change, which produced nearly 400 responses. We also gathered respondents’ ideas for improving the renewable energy systems. The data was supplemented by the results of in-depth telephone interviews with householders. The data on household adoption of renewable energy technologies presented in this report form part of a larger project entitled ‘People-centred ecodesign’

Consumer adoption of household energy efficiency measures, Report DIG-09

Improving the energy efficiency of homes is a key element of the UK Government’s energy and climate strategy which in 2005 were responsible for 28% of total UK carbon dioxide emissions. However, despite the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC), which requires UK electricity and gas suppliers to meet targets for promoting household energy efficiency, and the efforts of the Britain’s network of Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEACs), household adoption of established energy efficiency measures has been slow. According to the Government’s Energy Efficiency Action Plan, this slow adoption is due to three main barriers – up-front costs; lack of information; and hassle and disruption (DEFRA, 2004). However, other research (e.g. Guy and Shove, 2000) has shown that peoples’ motivations and actions concerning energy efficiency are often more complex than these barriers suggest. Also, even if householders adopt energy efficiency measures, they may not use them in an energy-saving manner. This report gives the results of a study carried out by the Design Innovation Group at the Open University (OU), in collaboration with Milton Keynes Energy Agency (MKEA) and the Energy Saving Trust, that aimed to investigate in detail the drivers and barriers underlying UK householders’ decisions to install – or reject –four important energy efficiency measures (loft insulation, condensing boilers, heating controls, energy-efficient lighting) and users’ experiences of the measures once installed, including their views on rebound effects. Data was gathered during 2006 via an online questionnaire linked to the websites of the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and a BBC/OU television series on climate change, which produced nearly 400 responses. We also gathered respondents’ ideas for improving the energy efficiency products and systems. The data was supplemented by the results of in-depth telephone interviews with householders. The surveys of household adoption of energy efficiency measures presented in this report form part of a larger project entitled ‘People-centred ecodesign’

Sustainable services, electronic education and the rebound effect

This paper challenges the belief that improving the efficiency of resource use will necessarily lead to lower consumption. Findings are presented of a study by the UK Open University of the environmental impacts of three higher education (HE) delivery systems. Initial analysis indicates that the distance-taught courses involve 90% less energy and CO2 emissions than the campus courses. Electronic delivery does not result in a reduction in energy or CO2 emissions compared to print-based distance learning, due to rebound effects, e.g. in use of computers and home heating. The paper concludes that to limit consumption, we need to deal with rebound effects and practice ‘sustainable consumption’

Technological innovation, energy efficient design and the rebound effect

Does technological innovation to improve the efficiency of energy-using products and systems lead to lower energy consumption and hence reduced environmental impacts? The answer given by economists since the mid nineteenth century is ‘no’. This is because there are direct ‘rebound’ or ‘take-back’ effects caused by energy efficiency improvements that lower the implicit price of energy, often leading to greater consumption. Also there are secondary or indirect effects of reducing energy costs through efficiency in that consumers may buy more products and/or choose, larger, more powerful, more feature laden models. Thus just promoting technical innovation to increase energy efficiency is unlikely to lead to reduced energy consumption and emissions. Other policies such as taxation or regulation are required. As well as setting the theoretical arguments concerning innovation and energy efficiency the paper outlines results from an empirical research project, ‘People-centred eco-design’, which seeks to identify the key influencing factors on consumer adoption and effective use of energy efficient products and systems. In particular it aims to identify how consumers may avoid (or mitigate) rebound effects and how manufacturers, service providers and government might design and promote such products to achieve their optimal environmental benefits

Improving the energy performance of UK households: Results from surveys of consumer adoption and use of low- and zero carbon technologies

This paper presents results from a UK Open University project which surveyed consumers' reasons for adoption, and non-adoption, of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy systems–collectively called low- and zero-carbon technologies–and their experiences of using these technologies. Data were gathered during 2006 via an online questionnaire with nearly 400 responses, plus 111 in-depth telephone interviews. The respondents were mainly environmentally concerned, 'green' consumers and therefore these are purposive rather than representative surveys. The paper outlines results for four energy efficiency measures (loft insulation, condensing boilers, heating controls and energy-efficient lighting) and four household renewables (solar thermal water heating, solar photovoltaics, micro-wind turbines and wood-burning stoves). These green consumers typically adopted these technologies to save energy, money and/or the environment, which many considered they achieved despite rebound effects. The reasons for considering but rejecting these technologies include the familiar price barriers, but there were also other obstacles that varied according to the technology concerned. Nearly a third of the surveyed consumers had adopted household renewables, over half of which were wood stoves and 10% solar thermal water heating systems. Most adopters of renewables had previously installed several energy efficiency measures, but only a fifth of those who seriously considered renewables actually installed a system. This suggests sell energy efficiency first, then renewables. There seems to be considerable interest in household renewables in the UK, especially among older, middle-class green consumers, but so far only relatively few pioneers have managed to overcome the barriers to adoption

National building stocks: addressing energy consumption or decarbonization?

The Building Research & Information special issue titled 'Climate Change: National Building Stocks' (2007) focused attention on the potential that the national building stock has in reducing CO2 emissions. However, can this potential be realized? To do so requires faith in energy models that suggest that demolition, new build, and the refurbishing of existing homes with insulation measures can deliver massive energy savings by 2050. But why, in the future, can there be increased efficiency and reduced consumption, when this has never occurred in the past? It is argued that the central weakness in the special issue papers is the neglect of the relationship between energy consumption and energy efficiency, and of the 'rebound effect'. The primary goal, should after all, be to reduce carbon emissions rather than energy use. Hence, emphasis should be placed on decarbonizing the centralized energy-supply systems. However, there will be a role here for micro-generation, building on the favourable image that energy efficiency has amongst the public. In 2050, we may be a low-carbon society, but I doubt we will be a low-energy one