Measuring Energy Efficiency Behavior: Perspectives and Methods from Psychological Science

Many programs exist to increase the purchase and installation of energy-efficient technologies (e.g., rebates for energy-efficient appliances), while programs designed to influence other types of behaviors (e.g., unplugging devices when not in use) are much less common. This is in part because implementers are not sure how to measure these energy-efficient actions and their associated energy savings. However, in order to meet the increasing emphasis on climate change and rising energy efficiency goals, measuring non-purchase-related energy efficiency behavior will be necessary. Luckily, a variety of research methods can be drawn from psychology to reliably measure behaviors, and these methods can be applied to measure behaviors associated with energy efficiency programs. Specifically, a variety of “real-time self-report” methods use diary techniques to assess the frequency of a behavior. Participants can be asked to record their actions on a regular time-interval, after some event occurs, or at a random time determined by a signaling device such as a PDA. These methods are systematic and reliable, and they are useful for increasing accuracy of self-reports because they are less reliant on memory. Furthermore, these same methods can be used to determine the longevity of behavior-based programs; i.e., how long do behavior changes last, and thus how long they can be counted towards energy efficiency goals? This paper provides a discussion of a variety of behavior measurement techniques from the psychology field and suggestions for how they might be applied to behaviorbased energy efficiency programs.