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Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis logoLink to Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
. 1981 Spring;14(1):81–88. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1981.14-81

Reduction of residential consumption of electricity through simple monthly feedback

Steven C Hayes 1,2, John D Cone 1,2
PMCID: PMC1308188  PMID: 16795641

Abstract

Feedback has been widely used in efforts to control the consumption of electricity. Previous efforts, however, have used forms of feedback that seem economically impractical. The present study examined the effects of a feasible program of monthly feedback. Forty matched nonvolunteer participants were randomly divided into two groups: a no-contact control group and a monthly feedback group. In an A-B-A design, the data showed a clear decrease in electricity consumption for the feedback group during the feedback phase. The effect was maintained during a 4-mo intervention period. Withdrawal of the feedback was associated with a return to higher levels of electricity consumption.

Keywords: electrical energy, conservation, feedback, environmental problems, behavioral community psychology, consumer behavior

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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