Submitted by Sergey Kolesnikov on Wed, 04/01/2023 - 10:35
New study co-authored by C-EENRG Fellow Dr Cristina Peñasco and C-EENRG Director Professor Laura Diaz Anadon, published in Energy Economics, assesses the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures in the residential sector gas consumption in England and Wales. The study finds that the adoption of energy efficiency measures is associated with significant reductions in household residential gas consumption one year after their implementation. However, the effect does not last in the long run and energy savings disappear four years after the retrofitting of cavity wall insulation measures and after two years following the installation of loft insulation.
The study was recently featured in The Guardian in an article '‘Rebound effect’ cancels out home insulation’s impact on gas use – study.' In this feature, Professor Laura Diaz Anadon, further comments on the findings:
“This study does not say that energy efficiency doesn’t work. [...] These sorts of efficiency improvements can keep our houses warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer. They might reduce damp, or it might become more affordable to keep your house warm. There are plenty of benefits, especially for low-income households.
“However, home insulation alone is not a magic bullet. These results suggest that to also have the benefits of reduced gas consumption, additional measures are needed. It’s a good opportunity to do even more on things like heat pumps. For short-term reductions in gas consumption, it is also really important to provide consumers with information about what they can do to reduce their usage.”
Read the original study: Peñasco, C., & Anadon, L. D. (2023). Assessing the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures in the residential sector gas consumption through dynamic treatment effects: Evidence from England and Wales. Energy Economics, 117, 106435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2022.106435
Read The Guardian article: ‘Rebound effect’ cancels out home insulation’s impact on gas use – study.
