Homes with tips or comparisons had smaller increases in electricity use
In Stockholm student housing, the seasonal increase was smaller with both messages. Among higher-use homes, the difference was clearer with practical tips.
The key idea
In this student housing, the seasonal increase in electricity use was smaller with tips or comparisons, with no overall winner between the two.
The study, in plain language
In a shared home, it can be hard to know which habits are increasing electricity use. To test different ways of providing information, the team randomly assigned participants in Stockholm student housing to receive saving tips, weekly comparisons with other homes, or no message. They tracked electricity use in the home associated with each participant for 24 weeks.
Compared with the no-message group, the seasonal increase in electricity use was smaller with both messages. Among homes that already used more electricity, the difference was clearer with practical tips. The study could not declare a winner between tips and comparisons: their effects could not be distinguished from each other.
What they found
- The seasonal increase in use was smaller with practical tips or comparisons between homes than with no messages.
- Among homes with higher prior use, the result was clearer with tips.
- Neither tips nor comparisons was an overall winner.
How they studied it
In a randomized field trial in Stockholm student housing, participants received energy-saving tips, weekly comparisons with other homes, or no message. The team recorded electricity use in each home for 24 weeks. In shared homes, individual consumption was not measured.
What the study cannot show
- The results come from student housing in one area and one specific period.
- Because electricity use was shared, the change could not be attributed to each individual.
- The study did not measure whether the effect continued after reminders were removed.
The original study
A randomized field experiment comparing nudges and boosts for household electricity conservation in student housing
Source under CC BY 4.0. English adaptation and explanation by PaperFlow, with AI assistance. The text has been reorganized for a general audience; it is not the complete paper and does not imply endorsement by its authors.
One study alone does not represent a field's consensus. Educational content does not replace professional advice. Report a possible error.
