Table of Contents
Everyday Energy Behavior
Behavioral change is about how people use energy in daily life, not about new machines or new technologies. Even in homes and workplaces that already have efficient equipment, human habits strongly influence total energy use. Small repeated actions, such as how long lights stay on or how people set the thermostat, can add up to large savings over weeks and years.
Energy use is often invisible. Electricity and heat flow silently, and most people only see the result on their monthly bill. Because of this, many behaviors are automatic or based on routine rather than conscious choice. Behavioral change aims to make energy use more visible and to make efficient actions easier and more natural.
Behavior is shaped by more than individual preferences. Social norms, building design, workplace rules, and available technologies all limit or enable what people can do. Effective programs for saving energy through behavior pay attention to these broader conditions and not only to personal motivation.
Types of Energy Behaviors
In practical terms, energy related behaviors can be divided into a few simple categories. One category is curtailment behaviors, where people reduce the duration or intensity of an activity that uses energy. Examples include turning off lights when leaving a room, taking shorter showers with hot water, or lowering heating by a small amount in winter.
Another category is efficiency related behaviors, where people decide to use more efficient options rather than less efficient ones. This might involve choosing to cook with a lid on pots, line drying clothes instead of using a dryer when possible, or selecting an energy saving mode on appliances and devices.
There are also maintenance behaviors, such as regularly cleaning filters on air conditioners, defrosting freezers, or keeping radiators unblocked so they can work efficiently. These actions do not change the service people receive from energy, for example comfortable temperatures, but they reduce the energy needed to provide that service.
Finally, there are one time or infrequent behaviors that influence energy for many years, such as choosing a more efficient appliance or arranging furniture to let more daylight in. While these choices are linked to technology, the decision to choose the efficient option is behavioral.
Simple Rules That Save Energy
Even without detailed technical knowledge, people can follow simple rules in homes, offices, and public buildings to cut energy waste. Many of these rules cost nothing and can be adopted immediately. Some are about avoiding unnecessary use, others are about using existing devices in a smarter way.
One common example is lighting. Natural light should be used whenever it is adequate, and lights should be turned off in empty rooms. Computers, televisions, and other electronics can be fully shut down instead of left on standby when not needed for long periods. Heating and cooling settings can be adjusted modestly while still keeping comfort.
Curtains and blinds can help manage heat and light. In colder climates they can be closed at night to reduce heat loss and opened during sunny periods to let in warmth. In warmer climates they can be closed during the hottest part of the day to keep interiors cooler, which reduces the need for air conditioning.
Water related energy use can be reduced by using cold water when hot water is not essential, such as for some laundry loads, and by being mindful of shower length. Cooking with appropriate sized burners, covering pots, and avoiding preheating ovens for longer than needed are further examples of practical, behavior based savings.
A useful guideline is: First avoid unnecessary energy use, then use necessary energy as efficiently as possible.
Comfort, Habits, And Perceptions
Comfort is a major driver of energy behavior. People often think of comfort as a fixed point, for example a specific indoor temperature. In reality, comfort has a range. Many people can adapt to slightly cooler temperatures in winter with warmer clothing, or slightly warmer temperatures in summer with lighter clothing and fans.
Perceptions and beliefs strongly influence whether people consider energy saving behaviors acceptable. If someone believes that leaving devices on all day protects them from damage, they may resist turning them off, even if this is not accurate. If people assume that one person’s actions do not matter, they are less likely to change their own habits.
Habits form when people repeat the same behavior in the same context until it becomes automatic. This is useful because it reduces effort, but it also means wasteful habits can persist without conscious thought. Introducing small prompts, such as labels near switches or reminders on doors, can help interrupt old habits and create new ones.
Social comfort also matters. People might avoid visible behaviors that appear unusual, such as wearing extra clothing indoors in winter, if they fear judgment from others. Normalizing energy saving behaviors through shared practice and communication can make them easier to adopt.
Social Norms And Peer Influence
Social norms are informal rules about what is typical or appropriate in a group. People often adjust their behavior to match what they think others are doing, even without being told to do so. This can be a powerful tool for energy savings.
For example, when households receive feedback that compares their electricity use to similar homes in their area, many reduce their consumption, especially if they see that they are using more than average. The knowledge that neighbors or colleagues are conserving energy can motivate individuals to follow the same pattern.
In workplaces, if managers and respected colleagues consistently turn off lights, shut down equipment, and support efficient practices, others are more likely to adopt similar behaviors. Public recognition of teams or departments that meet energy saving targets can strengthen positive norms.
However, norms can work in the opposite direction if high energy use is perceived as a sign of success or comfort. For instance, if very low indoor temperatures in summer become a status symbol, people may demand more cooling than they truly need. Shifting the social meaning of energy use is part of effective behavioral change.
Information, Feedback, And Awareness
Information alone does not guarantee behavioral change, but it is often necessary. Many people do not know which appliances in their home use the most electricity, or which behaviors have the biggest impact. Educational campaigns can explain typical energy use patterns and highlight high impact actions.
Real time or frequent feedback about energy use can make consumption more concrete. Smart meters, in home displays, and simple plug in meters can show how energy use changes when lights or devices are switched on and off. This immediate feedback helps people connect actions with consequences.
Bills that show usage trends over time or compare present consumption to previous months or years can also support awareness. Simplified visual formats often work better than long tables of numbers. Some tools translate energy use into understandable equivalents, such as cost per day, or emissions comparable to car kilometers.
While awareness is useful, it is more effective when combined with practical suggestions, clear goals, and support for changing habits. People need to know not only that energy use is high, but also what they can reasonably do about it.
Incentives And Commitment
Financial incentives can encourage energy saving behaviors. Time of use tariffs that make electricity cheaper at certain hours can motivate people to shift some activities, such as laundry or dishwashing, to those periods. Rewards or small bonuses for meeting consumption targets may also support change.
Non financial incentives are also important. Public recognition, certificates, or friendly competitions between groups can make energy saving engaging. Schools sometimes run contests among classes to reduce electricity use, and offices may have challenges between departments.
Personal and group commitments can strengthen behavior. When people publicly commit to specific actions, such as keeping thermostats within a certain range or always turning off lights at the end of the day, they are more likely to follow through. Commitment is especially strong when individuals help design the rules they agree to follow.
Incentive based approaches work best when they do not feel punitive. If people experience energy saving programs only as restrictions or penalties, they may resist. Clear communication about the purpose, benefits, and fairness of any incentive scheme can help maintain trust.
Designing Behavior Change Programs
Programs that aim to change energy behavior work better when they are specific and focused. Instead of a general call to save energy, a program might target a particular behavior, such as reducing unnecessary lighting in corridors, or turning off office equipment every evening.
Effective programs start by understanding current behaviors and the reasons behind them. This may involve simple surveys, observations, or discussions with building occupants. Barriers can be practical, such as hard to reach switches, or psychological, such as fear of blame if equipment is turned off and later needed.
Once barriers are known, solutions can be designed. These might include clearer instructions, better placement of controls, automatic reminders, or minor changes in schedules. Providing training and explaining the reasoning behind changes helps people feel respected and involved.
Monitoring and feedback are important. If people see evidence that their efforts result in lower bills or reduced energy use, they are more likely to maintain new behaviors. Programs should also be flexible so they can be adjusted when some measures do not work as intended.
The Role Of Technology In Supporting Behavior
Technology and behavior interact closely. Devices can be designed to make efficient choices easier or even automatic. Examples include lights that switch off when no presence is detected, thermostats with simple schedules, and default energy saving modes in electronics.
However, technology is not a complete substitute for human behavior. People can override automatic settings or disable features if they find them inconvenient. For this reason, communication and user friendly design are essential. When people understand how a device saves energy and still meets their needs, they are more likely to cooperate with its settings.
Digital tools can support behavioral change by providing detailed feedback, personalized suggestions, and reminders. Smartphone applications that track home energy use, or platforms that suggest the best times for certain activities based on local grid conditions, are examples.
At the same time, reliance on automation can create a false sense that behavior no longer matters. Clear guidance that technology is a partner, not a replacement for mindful use, can keep attention on daily choices.
Long-Term Habits And Cultural Change
For energy savings from behavior to persist, new habits must become part of everyday life and culture. Short term campaigns may deliver quick results, but these gains can fade if the underlying routines do not change.
Building long term habits involves repetition, consistent cues, and supportive environments. For example, always switching off a power strip before leaving a room can become automatic if the strip is easy to reach and the action is linked to a routine, such as picking up keys.
Cultural change happens when many individuals adopt similar behaviors and pass them on to others. In families, children learn energy habits from adults, and later bring those habits to schools and workplaces. In organizations, new employees adopt the established culture, whether it is careful with energy or careless.
Policies, building codes, and organizational rules can reinforce cultural change by making efficient behavior the default option. Over time, what once felt like a special effort becomes normal practice. In this way, behavioral change contributes not only to immediate energy savings but also to a broader culture of sustainability.