Assessing the residential energy rebound effect by means of a serious game

Conference paper (2018)

Authors

C. van Daalen Policy Analysis - TPM
E.J.L. Chappin Energy and Industry
Bas van Nuland The Barn
I.S. Mohammed Policy Analysis - TPM
B. Enserink Policy Analysis - TPM
Research Group
Policy Analysis (TPM) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2018 Oscar Garay Garcia, C. van Daalen, E.J.L. Chappin, Bas van Nuland, I.S. Mohammed, B. Enserink
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91902-7_13
Energy savings Rebound effect Game as a research instrument NRG game
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Published Date

2018

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Technology, Policy and Management

Department

Multi Actor Systems

Research Group

Policy Analysis

Abstract

Residential energy efficiency improvements often have a smaller effect than expected. Although there is agreement on the existence of this effect, called the rebound effect, there is no agreement on the size of the effect. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of using serious games to assess this effect. We used a game in which participants play home owners who manage their households in terms of energy consumption. Results of experiments with 50 players showed signs of the rebound effect when players with a low efficiency house reduced their energy consumption more than players with a high efficiency house. In addition, some issues related to previous studies were addressed, such as the possibility to perform an ex-ante assessment and to conduct the study in a controlled environment. Calculations of the size of the rebound effect depended on the approach used to determine the expected effect and showed differences between appliances.