ORCID

Abstract

Householders play a role in energy conservation through the decisions they make about purchases and installations such as insulation, and through their habitual behavior. The present U.K. study investigated the effect of thermal imaging technology on energy conservation, by measuring the behavioral effect after householders viewed images of heat escaping from or cold air entering their homes. In Study 1 (n = 43), householders who received a thermal image reduced their energy use at a 1-year follow-up, whereas householders who received a carbon footprint audit and a non-intervention control demonstrated no change. In Study 2 (n = 87), householders were nearly 5 times more likely to install draught proofing measures after seeing a thermal image. The effect was especially pronounced for actions that addressed an issue visible in the images. Findings indicate that using thermal imaging to make heat loss visible can promote energy conservation.

DOI

10.1177/0013916514546218

Publication Date

2015-12-01

Publication Title

Environment and Behavior

Volume

47

Issue

10

ISSN

0013-9165

Keywords

behavioral interventions, energy conservation behavior, energy visibility, environmental psychology, thermal imaging

First Page

1059

Last Page

1088

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