Time rebound effect in households’ energy use: Theory and evidence

Abstract

Time-saving goods and services have become increasingly popular because they increase a household's disposable time, which could be allocated to other activities that consume energy and/or electricity. We develop a simple theoretical model and define the time rebound effect as the increased amount of energy consumption that time-saving goods induce through household tasks. We obtain empirical support for this model through a Japanese household survey. In particular, our analysis shows that the use of dishwashers and online grocery-ordering services has a significant effect on the time spent on other household activities. Our findings showed that the introduction of dishwashers increased electricity consumption through increased in-home laundry behavior, implying a time rebound effect. Currently, this effect is weak, with the additional electricity usage being at most 2.58% of the daily usage. However, as the proliferation of time-saving goods and/or services increases, this effect is expected to become significant. Therefore, measures against the time rebound effect will also be necessary in the future. A first step might be to recognize the time rebound. Then, policies such as a carbon pricing and public information should be considered in order to avoid energy-consuming actions. • Time saving goods/services are increasingly developed and diffused. • Theoretical model of time rebound effect is developed. • We reveal empirical evidence of our theoretical model based on Japanese household data. • Dishwasher use and Internet ordering/delivery impact other household activity time. • A small but significant time-rebound effect (up to 2.58%) is observed for washing machines.