Improving Efficiency of Normative Interventions by Characteristic-Based Selection of Households: An Agent-Based Approach

Abstract

Energy demand is increasing globally, and the building sector accounts for more than a third of energy use in some countries. Thus, by means of normative interventions (NIs), the authorities have started investing in improving the energy behavior of households as an important factor affecting the energy consumption of buildings. In this regard, ecofeedback programs and the appointment of environmental champions (ECs) in the target community are considered practical solutions. This paper presents a novel approach, characteristic-based selection of households (CBSH), to improve the short-term and long-term effects of such NIs by focusing on characteristics of the energy behavior of households. In the simulation model, the household’s energy consumption behavior and social network can be altered to study the effectiveness of different scenarios for a selection of households as ECs or ecofeedback attendants. According to the simulation results, the outcome of NIs can be promoted by using CBSH to select ecofeedback participants as well as integrating ECs with ecofeedback programs.