TEACH EFFICIENCY TO GROW EFFICIENCY

Communicating the Benefits of Efficiency Encourages Saving Energy
November 2, 2010 (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy)

"Motivating customers and organizations to change their behavior can lead to significant energy savings. A new report from ACEEE, Visible and Concrete Savings: Case Studies of Effective Behavioral Approaches to Improving Customer Energy Efficiency, profiles a variety of programs that spur individuals and organizations to save energy by changing behavior in their homes, businesses, and plants…[C]ase studies illustrate the results possible when applying social science to [a full spectrum of] energy efficiency and conservation programs …

"Social science-based programs that seek to reduce customer energy use are attracting increased interest as governments, industries, and the public expand their energy efficiency efforts…Key factors for success…include making energy use ‘visible’ to customers, setting measurable goals, providing incentives and instructions for action, and providing feedback on progress…"

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"This report…[profiles] 10 large, recent programs that have met a broad range of efficiency targets—from 2 to 20 percent of participants’ energy use—using a variety of approaches…[They] show that behavioral programs can be…[effective and impact] energy use in the transportation and industrial sectors…"

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"…Two of the case studies highlight the ambitious efforts by Alcoa and Dow to reduce their total energy footprint in their companies through management and employee-led initiatives…Case studies from the transportation sector include EPA’s highly successful SmartWay Transport Partnership as well as France’s feebate program.

"The report’s case studies clearly demonstrate that behavioral change by individual consumers can lead to significant energy and cost savings. Applying social science to energy efficiency and conservation programs can effectively guide individuals and organizations towards increased energy efficiency and reduced energy use."