Publications
TRANSPOSE Working Paper No4: Stromsparen über den Preis? Ein Experiment
Ulrich Hamenstädt - 2009, 46 pages (Abstract: DE EN) (Download Paper)
Abstract
Electricity consumption has increased continuously in German households over the past years. Are more efficient household appliances too expensive or is electricity too cheap, thus providing no incentive to save? This article presents an experiment seeking to answer this question. Findings seem to suggest that an increase in the price of electricity would have little success in motivating buyers to realize their saving potential. On the other hand, results show political instruments to be in a very promising position when getting involved in the process of buying electricity saving household appliances. Consumers were much more prepared to invest in an electricity saving refrigerator than in an electricity saving television. In addition to defining the price sensitivity of consumers in relation to electricity and energy saving household appliances, this experiment also developed a model on the impact of price increases on the electricity market. Hereby we can deduct factors related to the impact and workings of political instruments. This is central to the promoting of sustainable consumption, if one is to use political instruments to support a more efficient approach to electricity consumption in private households.
