Determinants of household energy efficiency investment: analysis of refrigerator purchasing behavior

Previous studies have reported that households tend to not choose an energy-efficient appliance even if appropriate energy-saving information is provided. To identify the determinants of energy efficiency investment, we conducted a household survey in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Specifically, we collect product model information for the refrigerator that a household owns and calculate the yearly loss incurred from choosing a less efficient model. We then identify socioeconomic characteristics of households that are associated with these yearly losses. We find that wealthy households with many family members tend to purchase inefficient models. We also find that a house-renter with a high income is more likely to purchase an energy-inefficient model. A program targeted at such households could be effective for increasing energy savings in the residential sector.