Information tools for energy demand reduction in existing residential buildings

This report evaluates information tools used to reduce energy demand in existing residential buildings, specifically focusing on thermal retrofits in Germany and internationally. It categorizes tools into three groups: those that raise awareness of benefits (e.g., detailed billing, smart meters, local leadership programs), those that assist in planning and investment (e.g., energy audits, online tools), and those that train professionals (e.g., certification schemes). Key findings indicate that normative feedback in billing and peer-to-peer networks are cost-effective, while the effectiveness of smart meters depends heavily on user education. The report emphasizes that the quality and independence of professional advice are critical for homeowner trust and investment decisions.

• Detailed energy bills and reports that include normative data (such as local averages) are cost-effective tools that can reduce household energy consumption by 1% to 10%, with a median of approximately 5%.
• The effectiveness of detailed billing is higher when participation is automated via an 'opt-out' system rather than requiring an 'opt-in' subscription, as seen in the comparison between OPower in the US and BC Hydro in Canada.
• In-home energy displays and smart meters can lead to electricity savings of around 5% for large samples of regular users, though some motivated individuals may achieve savings of 20% or more.
• The success of smart meters depends on user education and information campaigns; the hardware alone does not save energy. Additionally, energy suppliers often lack the incentive to encourage reduction unless profits are decoupled from sales.
• Local leadership programmes leveraging peer communication (neighbors, friends, and associations) are efficient, low-cost ways to deliver advice and establish a culture of energy knowledge.
• Specific local leadership initiatives have shown measurable impacts: Finland's Energy Environment Experts programme achieved direct savings estimated at 14% of the total CO2 emission saving requirement proposed in the Energy Saving and Efficiency Program through 2010.
• Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in Germany are currently viewed as not very effective, although they are more trusted than other information sources and may improve if they become fully mandatory.
• Households generally trust energy advice more when provided by experts than via internet platforms, although online tools are cheaper and more accessible. However, inconsistent advice from different sources can limit the value of such information.
• In Germany, 'energy checks' provided by contractors (such as heating engineers or chimney sweeps) are accessible and free, leading half of users to implement an energy-saving measure, though there is a risk of bias since the providers are also the contractors.
• Standardized detailed energy consulting in Germany (BAfA-Vor-Ort-Beratung), which is government-funded and requires independent certified consultants, has high satisfaction rates, with over 90% of users implementing or planning energy-saving measures.
• The variety of professional titles and qualifications for contractors undermines the ability of households to select and trust the right expert. Certification schemes that apply to an entire company rather than individuals reduce the incentive for firms to train all staff.

APA

Novikova, A., Amecke, H., Neuhoff, K., Stelmakh, K., Kiss, B., Rohde, C., Dunkelberg, E., Weiß, J., Matschoss, K., & Darby, S. (2011). Information tools for energy demand reduction in existing residential buildings. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Information-Tools-for-Energy-Demand-Reduction.pdf

Chicago

Novikova, Aleksandra, Hermann Amecke, Karsten Neuhoff, Kateryna Stelmakh, Bernadett Kiss, Clemens Rohde, Elisa Dunkelberg, et al. Information tools for energy demand reduction in existing residential buildings. Climate Policy Initiative, 2011. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Information-Tools-for-Energy-Demand-Reduction.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{novikova2011information, author = {Novikova, Aleksandra and Amecke, Hermann and Neuhoff, Karsten and Stelmakh, Kateryna and Kiss, Bernadett and Rohde, Clemens and Dunkelberg, Elisa and Weiß, Julika and Matschoss, Kaisa and Darby, Sarah}, title = {{Information tools for energy demand reduction in existing residential buildings}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2011}, month = jun, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Information-Tools-for-Energy-Demand-Reduction.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }