Transdisciplinary approach to reduce electricity consumption using system dynamics

Abstract

The electricity sector holds a paramount position in Iran's energy landscape and plays a pivotal role in economic decision-making. Data indicates that Iran's average annual energy consumption has surged by approximately 10% each year over the past decade. The transdisciplinary approach to reducing electricity consumption involves an integrated method that goes beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. Consequently, to regulate electricity usage through macro and national strategies, it is imperative to contemplate soft and qualitative methodologies employed in the analysis of socio-economic systems, particularly through the lens of system dynamics. This study aims to scrutinize the influence of diverse socio-cultural policies on diminishing electricity consumption utilizing system dynamics as a transdisciplinary approach. The primary objective of this model is to assess the repercussions of various socio-cultural policies on the forthcoming trajectory. Findings from research conducted in Kerman, a province in Iran, underscore that if the current scenario persists, electricity consumption will persistently escalate over the next decade. However, the results indicate that the implementation of pertinent educational and promotional policies can mitigate the growth rate of electricity consumption.