Saving power to conserve your reputation? The effectiveness of private versus public information

Environmental damage is often an unseen byproduct of other activities. Disclosing environmental impact privately to consumers can reduce the costs and/or increase the moral benefits of conservation behaviors, while publicly disclosing such information can provide an additional motivation for conserv...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Journal of environmental economics and management 2014-05, Vol.67 (3), p.353-370
Hauptverfasser: Delmas, Magali A., Lessem, Neil
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
container_end_page 370
container_issue 3
container_start_page 353
container_title Journal of environmental economics and management
container_volume 67
creator Delmas, Magali A.
Lessem, Neil
description Environmental damage is often an unseen byproduct of other activities. Disclosing environmental impact privately to consumers can reduce the costs and/or increase the moral benefits of conservation behaviors, while publicly disclosing such information can provide an additional motivation for conservation - cultivating a green reputation. In a unique field experiment in the residence halls at the University of California – Los Angeles, we test the efficacy of detailed private and public information on electricity conservation. Private information was given through real-time appliance level feedback and social norms over usage, and public information was given through a publicly visible conservation rating. Our analysis is based on 7,120 daily observations about energy use from heating and cooling, lights and plug load for 66 rooms collected over an academic year. Our results suggest that while private information alone was ineffective, public information combined with private information motivated a 20 percent reduction in electricity consumption achieved through lower use of heating and cooling. Public information was particularly effective for above median energy users.
doi_str_mv 10.1016/j.jeem.2013.12.009
format Article
fullrecord <record><control><sourceid>proquest_cross</sourceid><recordid>TN_cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_1761483290</recordid><sourceformat>XML</sourceformat><sourcesystem>PC</sourcesystem><els_id>S0095069614000072</els_id><sourcerecordid>1761483290</sourcerecordid><originalsourceid>FETCH-LOGICAL-c535t-bb12a045faa417978435aa1b5b4e307e48fe1927e782febe9ac2719848cc59633</originalsourceid><addsrcrecordid>eNp9kE1LxDAQhoMouH78AU8BL15akzRpGxBExC9Y8KCeYxonmtJtatJW9t-bdT158DQwvM8w74PQCSU5JbQ8b_MWYJUzQoucspwQuYMWlMgyI5zLXbRIG5GRUpb76CDGlhBSk6pcoNcnPbv-HQ_-CwIePTa-jxBmwGs_BRxgmEY9Ot9f4ucPwGAtmNHN0EOM2Fs8BDfrEfAMIU4RD1PTOYNdb31Y_XBHaM_qLsLx7zxEL7c3z9f32fLx7uH6apkZUYgxaxrKNOHCas1pJauaF0Jr2oiGQ0Eq4LUFKlkFVc0sNCC1YRWVNa-NEbIsikN0tr07BP85QRzVykUDXad78FNUtCoprwsmSYqe_om2qWufvlNUsFIKXjCWUmybMsHHGMCq1HWlw1pRojbSVas20tVGuqJMJcUJuthCkKrODoKKxkFv4M2FJE69efcf_g0mXYuN</addsrcrecordid><sourcetype>Aggregation Database</sourcetype><iscdi>true</iscdi><recordtype>article</recordtype><pqid>1526954322</pqid></control><display><type>article</type><title>Saving power to conserve your reputation? The effectiveness of private versus public information</title><source>Access via ScienceDirect (Elsevier)</source><creator>Delmas, Magali A. ; Lessem, Neil</creator><creatorcontrib>Delmas, Magali A. ; Lessem, Neil</creatorcontrib><description>Environmental damage is often an unseen byproduct of other activities. Disclosing environmental impact privately to consumers can reduce the costs and/or increase the moral benefits of conservation behaviors, while publicly disclosing such information can provide an additional motivation for conservation - cultivating a green reputation. In a unique field experiment in the residence halls at the University of California – Los Angeles, we test the efficacy of detailed private and public information on electricity conservation. Private information was given through real-time appliance level feedback and social norms over usage, and public information was given through a publicly visible conservation rating. Our analysis is based on 7,120 daily observations about energy use from heating and cooling, lights and plug load for 66 rooms collected over an academic year. Our results suggest that while private information alone was ineffective, public information combined with private information motivated a 20 percent reduction in electricity consumption achieved through lower use of heating and cooling. Public information was particularly effective for above median energy users.</description><identifier>ISSN: 0095-0696</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1096-0449</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2013.12.009</identifier><identifier>CODEN: JEEMDI</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>New York: Elsevier Inc</publisher><subject>Conservation ; Conservation behavior ; Conspicuous consumption ; Disclosure ; Effectiveness studies ; Electricity ; Energy conservation ; Energy efficiency ; Environmental impact ; Environmental impact studies ; Image motivation ; Public information ; Signaling ; United States</subject><ispartof>Journal of environmental economics and management, 2014-05, Vol.67 (3), p.353-370</ispartof><rights>2014 Elsevier Inc.</rights><rights>Copyright Elsevier Science Publishing Company, Inc. May 2014</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><oa>free_for_read</oa><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><citedby>FETCH-LOGICAL-c535t-bb12a045faa417978435aa1b5b4e307e48fe1927e782febe9ac2719848cc59633</citedby><cites>FETCH-LOGICAL-c535t-bb12a045faa417978435aa1b5b4e307e48fe1927e782febe9ac2719848cc59633</cites></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><linktohtml>$$Uhttps://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jeem.2013.12.009$$EHTML$$P50$$Gelsevier$$H</linktohtml><link.rule.ids>314,780,784,3550,27924,27925,45995</link.rule.ids></links><search><creatorcontrib>Delmas, Magali A.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Lessem, Neil</creatorcontrib><title>Saving power to conserve your reputation? The effectiveness of private versus public information</title><title>Journal of environmental economics and management</title><description>Environmental damage is often an unseen byproduct of other activities. Disclosing environmental impact privately to consumers can reduce the costs and/or increase the moral benefits of conservation behaviors, while publicly disclosing such information can provide an additional motivation for conservation - cultivating a green reputation. In a unique field experiment in the residence halls at the University of California – Los Angeles, we test the efficacy of detailed private and public information on electricity conservation. Private information was given through real-time appliance level feedback and social norms over usage, and public information was given through a publicly visible conservation rating. Our analysis is based on 7,120 daily observations about energy use from heating and cooling, lights and plug load for 66 rooms collected over an academic year. Our results suggest that while private information alone was ineffective, public information combined with private information motivated a 20 percent reduction in electricity consumption achieved through lower use of heating and cooling. Public information was particularly effective for above median energy users.</description><subject>Conservation</subject><subject>Conservation behavior</subject><subject>Conspicuous consumption</subject><subject>Disclosure</subject><subject>Effectiveness studies</subject><subject>Electricity</subject><subject>Energy conservation</subject><subject>Energy efficiency</subject><subject>Environmental impact</subject><subject>Environmental impact studies</subject><subject>Image motivation</subject><subject>Public information</subject><subject>Signaling</subject><subject>United States</subject><issn>0095-0696</issn><issn>1096-0449</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2014</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><recordid>eNp9kE1LxDAQhoMouH78AU8BL15akzRpGxBExC9Y8KCeYxonmtJtatJW9t-bdT158DQwvM8w74PQCSU5JbQ8b_MWYJUzQoucspwQuYMWlMgyI5zLXbRIG5GRUpb76CDGlhBSk6pcoNcnPbv-HQ_-CwIePTa-jxBmwGs_BRxgmEY9Ot9f4ucPwGAtmNHN0EOM2Fs8BDfrEfAMIU4RD1PTOYNdb31Y_XBHaM_qLsLx7zxEL7c3z9f32fLx7uH6apkZUYgxaxrKNOHCas1pJauaF0Jr2oiGQ0Eq4LUFKlkFVc0sNCC1YRWVNa-NEbIsikN0tr07BP85QRzVykUDXad78FNUtCoprwsmSYqe_om2qWufvlNUsFIKXjCWUmybMsHHGMCq1HWlw1pRojbSVas20tVGuqJMJcUJuthCkKrODoKKxkFv4M2FJE69efcf_g0mXYuN</recordid><startdate>20140501</startdate><enddate>20140501</enddate><creator>Delmas, Magali A.</creator><creator>Lessem, Neil</creator><general>Elsevier Inc</general><general>Elsevier Science Publishing Company, Inc</general><scope>AAYXX</scope><scope>CITATION</scope><scope>7SN</scope><scope>7ST</scope><scope>8BJ</scope><scope>C1K</scope><scope>FQK</scope><scope>JBE</scope><scope>SOI</scope></search><sort><creationdate>20140501</creationdate><title>Saving power to conserve your reputation? The effectiveness of private versus public information</title><author>Delmas, Magali A. ; Lessem, Neil</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c535t-bb12a045faa417978435aa1b5b4e307e48fe1927e782febe9ac2719848cc59633</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2014</creationdate><topic>Conservation</topic><topic>Conservation behavior</topic><topic>Conspicuous consumption</topic><topic>Disclosure</topic><topic>Effectiveness studies</topic><topic>Electricity</topic><topic>Energy conservation</topic><topic>Energy efficiency</topic><topic>Environmental impact</topic><topic>Environmental impact studies</topic><topic>Image motivation</topic><topic>Public information</topic><topic>Signaling</topic><topic>United States</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>Delmas, Magali A.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Lessem, Neil</creatorcontrib><collection>CrossRef</collection><collection>Ecology Abstracts</collection><collection>Environment Abstracts</collection><collection>International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS)</collection><collection>Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management</collection><collection>International Bibliography of the Social Sciences</collection><collection>International Bibliography of the Social Sciences</collection><collection>Environment Abstracts</collection><jtitle>Journal of environmental economics and management</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Delmas, Magali A.</au><au>Lessem, Neil</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Saving power to conserve your reputation? The effectiveness of private versus public information</atitle><jtitle>Journal of environmental economics and management</jtitle><date>2014-05-01</date><risdate>2014</risdate><volume>67</volume><issue>3</issue><spage>353</spage><epage>370</epage><pages>353-370</pages><issn>0095-0696</issn><eissn>1096-0449</eissn><coden>JEEMDI</coden><abstract>Environmental damage is often an unseen byproduct of other activities. Disclosing environmental impact privately to consumers can reduce the costs and/or increase the moral benefits of conservation behaviors, while publicly disclosing such information can provide an additional motivation for conservation - cultivating a green reputation. In a unique field experiment in the residence halls at the University of California – Los Angeles, we test the efficacy of detailed private and public information on electricity conservation. Private information was given through real-time appliance level feedback and social norms over usage, and public information was given through a publicly visible conservation rating. Our analysis is based on 7,120 daily observations about energy use from heating and cooling, lights and plug load for 66 rooms collected over an academic year. Our results suggest that while private information alone was ineffective, public information combined with private information motivated a 20 percent reduction in electricity consumption achieved through lower use of heating and cooling. Public information was particularly effective for above median energy users.</abstract><cop>New York</cop><pub>Elsevier Inc</pub><doi>10.1016/j.jeem.2013.12.009</doi><tpages>18</tpages><oa>free_for_read</oa></addata></record>
fulltext fulltext
identifier ISSN: 0095-0696
ispartof Journal of environmental economics and management, 2014-05, Vol.67 (3), p.353-370
issn 0095-0696
1096-0449
language eng
recordid cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_1761483290
source Access via ScienceDirect (Elsevier)
subjects Conservation
Conservation behavior
Conspicuous consumption
Disclosure
Effectiveness studies
Electricity
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Environmental impact
Environmental impact studies
Image motivation
Public information
Signaling
United States
title Saving power to conserve your reputation? The effectiveness of private versus public information
url https://sfx.bib-bvb.de/sfx_tum?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2024-12-24T22%3A59%3A21IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-proquest_cross&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Saving%20power%20to%20conserve%20your%20reputation?%20The%20effectiveness%20of%20private%20versus%20public%20information&rft.jtitle=Journal%20of%20environmental%20economics%20and%20management&rft.au=Delmas,%20Magali%20A.&rft.date=2014-05-01&rft.volume=67&rft.issue=3&rft.spage=353&rft.epage=370&rft.pages=353-370&rft.issn=0095-0696&rft.eissn=1096-0449&rft.coden=JEEMDI&rft_id=info:doi/10.1016/j.jeem.2013.12.009&rft_dat=%3Cproquest_cross%3E1761483290%3C/proquest_cross%3E%3Curl%3E%3C/url%3E&disable_directlink=true&sfx.directlink=off&sfx.report_link=0&rft_id=info:oai/&rft_pqid=1526954322&rft_id=info:pmid/&rft_els_id=S0095069614000072&rfr_iscdi=true