Work package 4: Developing an integrated psycho-sociological action model

Why do private households vary so significantly in their electricity consumption? Besides structural reasons, such as the use of electric heating systems or the number of persons living in the household, the consumers' behaviour is, above all, the decisive aspect. The aim of this working package is to provide evidence backed knowledge about the most important influencing factors of consumers' electricity saving behaviour and on investments in electricity saving appliances. Based on the analysis of electricity saving potentials (see work package 1), which identifies the most important areas of consumer behaviour for electric power, this work package follows five sub-aims:

• Relevant influencing factors and barriers related to the different fields of consumption behaviour will be identified.
• The interplay of these factors is postulated in a theory-based action model and tested empirically.
• By using the collected data, the most important influence factors for the relevant consumption behaviour will be identified.
• Links between both the individual determinants and contextual influence factors and power consumption behaviour will be identified.
• An integrated psycho-sociological action model is developed and hypotheses of potentially effective policy instruments are deducted, which correspond to the previously identified influence factors and barriers of power consumption behaviour.

 

Coordination:	Prof. Dr. Dörthe Krömker (Universität Kassel)
Team:	Christian Dehmel, M.A. Soziologie (Universität Kassel)
	Dr. Kerstin Tews (FFU)
Contact:	Doerthe Krömker