Behavioral interventions in resource conservation: A systems approach based on behavioral economics.

Behavioral interventions to promote resource conservation have tended to focus narrowly on the control of target behaviors or practices, at the expense of viewing conservation behaviors within a systems context both at the micro and macro levels. This article outlines some of the advantages of an integration of psychological (social-learning) and economic conceptualizations. This integration is illustrated (a) by discussion of the procedures and results of rebate studies in residential energy and water conservation, in which rebates were used as a method to modify conservation behaviors and to estimate experimentally price elasticity in contrast to the usual econometric methods; (b) by a meta-analysis on behavioral energy studies conducted from 1973 to 1980, which shows that the effectiveness of rebates and feedback is partially explained by an economic factor; (c) by field-based studies designed to modify perceptions of comfort and residential energy conservation; and (d) by the development of a rebate system congruent with planning policies and instituted to reduce domestic water consumption. Maximization theory is offered as an integrative, conceptual framework that may be useful for planning resource conservation interventions. The importance of combining economic and psychological analyses and techniques for effective resource management is emphasized. 49 references, 1 figure.