Curtailment Behaviors Research Articles

Impact of Penalty Structures on Virtual Power Plants in a Day-Ahead Electricity Market

The rapid increase in distributed energy resources has augmented the significance of virtual power plants (VPPs), which are essential for the aggregation and management of variable renewable energy resources (RERs). The inherent variability and uncertainty of RERs necessitate the implementation of deviation penalties to address the discrepancies between the awarded bids and actual generation, which is crucial in maintaining market stability and ensuring reliable grid operations. Therefore, this study proposes a framework for deviation penalty structures, categorizing penalties based on three factors: the penalty scope, penalty rate, and penalty coefficient. The simulation results show that the penalty scope significantly influences the revenue of VPPs, with over-generation penalty structures typically yielding higher profitability. Conversely, dual-sided penalty structures result in lower total revenues compared to one-sided penalty structures. For instance, when the penalty price coefficient is set to 0.1, the total revenue of a dual-sided penalty structure is approximately 62.26% lower than that of a one-sided penalty structure during the morning period. The results also demonstrate that deviation penalty structures have a direct impact on power deviations and curtailment behavior. Finally, we offer recommendations for the design of an effective penalty structure aimed at assisting policymakers and distributed system operators (DSOs) in structuring market mechanisms, which not only facilitate the integration of RERs but also enhance their economic viability within electricity markets.

Status Consumption Effect on Moral Identity - Sustainable Consumption Relationship: Bittersweet, or Bitter-Only?

This study aims to explore how moral identity is connected to sustainable consumption and investigate how status consumption might influence this relationship. While moral identity has been recognized as an influencer in shaping sustainable behavior, the exact relational dynamics and predictive power of its two scopes—internalization and symbolization—remain largely unclear. On the other hand, understanding how people, especially in developing countries, behave sustainably and cut back on unsustainable consumption, is under studied despite its crucial importance for the future of their economies. Using self-concept theory as the theoretical framework, this paper’s goal is to investigate how collectivist mindset as an actual-self affect moral identity internalization and symbolization and how moral identity impacts sustainable consumption curtailment and buying behaviors of Turkish consumers. Additionally, this investigation looked at the moderating effect of status consumption on the moral identity-sustainable consumption relationship. The findings indicate that collectivist mindset influences moral identity dimensions and these dimensions significantly affect sustainable consumption buying and curtailment behaviors. Furthermore, the findings also imply that status consumption weakens the relationship among moral identity and sustainable consumption dimensions except the connection between moral identity symbolization and sustainable consumption buying behavior.

Are households willing to adopt solar home systems also likely to use electricity more efficiently? Empirical insights from Accra, Ghana

The diffusion of renewable energy technology, such as solar home systems (SHS), has great potential to reduce GHG emissions. However, households’ energy efficiency (EE) and curtailment behavior (CB) play a crucial role in this process. This study examines the rooftop solar PV potential, households’ willingness to adopt SHS, and their EE/CB implications for mitigating CO2 emissions through SHS adoption. A survey of 216 households was carried out alongside rooftop solar PV potential analysis in a high-income gated estate and a middle-class neighborhood using secondary data. First, we find that rooftop solar PV has the potential to offset all grid electricity and its associated CO2 emissions for at least 63.5% of households. Secondly, the willingness to adopt SHS is lower in the high-income neighborhood than the middle-class ones. This dynamic is explained by the occupancy status, where most of those in the high-income neighborhood tend to be renters – a group known to have a low willingness to adopt SHS. Thirdly, our results affirm that energy-saving behavior is more common in a middle-class neighborhood where the propensity to adopt SHS is also high. Our results suggest that households willing to adopt SHS are more likely to engage in EE/CB. However, this tendency is common among middle-class households, who, in practice, may not be able to afford the SHS. Our findings underscore the need for more targeted policy interventions for SHS, and EE and CB among homeowners, high-income neighborhoods, and real estate developers.

The double-edged sword effect of materialism on energy saving behaviors

Although studies have indicated contradicting results regarding the relationship between materialism and environmental behaviors, knowledge on how these inconsistencies transpire remains limited. This paper aims to construct a model to understand the double-edged sword effect of materialism on two specific types of energy saving behaviors. On the basis of symbolic self-completion theory and social cognitive theory, we examine the mediation role of self-enhancement motivation and the moderation role of extravagant atmosphere. Survey results from 565 citizens in China demonstrate that materialism is positively related to energy efficiency purchase and negatively related to energy curtailment behavior through self-enhancement motivation. Furthermore, extravagant atmosphere reinforces the positive connection between materialism and self-enhancement motivation and further moderates the indirect effect of materialism on energy efficiency purchase and energy curtailment behavior. Our conclusions shed light on the theoretical and managerial implications for literature about materialism and environmental behaviors.

Saving from home! How income, efficiency, and curtailment behaviors shape energy consumption dynamics in US households?

The objective of this study is to analyze the role of energy efficiency and curtailment behaviors and examine how these behaviors are mediated by annual household income to explain overall energy consumption dynamics in US households using a nationally representative dataset. Our two-part empirical analysis first explores the role of annual household income on the efficiency and curtailment behaviors while controlling for the physical and demographic variables using structural equation modeling (SEM). Next, we test the extent and direction of self-reported energy efficiency and curtailment behaviors in explaining total energy/electricity consumption of households using cluster analysis and multivariate linear regression methods. We find efficiency behaviors to be positively correlated with the household income. However, the direction of relationship between income and curtailment behaviors appears to vary depending upon specific actions. Our findings also suggest that in comparison to the consistent role of physical factors in the residential energy consumption, the nature and direction of behavioral factors are mixed and vary with specific behaviors and context. Our study builds upon the existing literature on residential energy saving behaviors and provides important insights for tailored, targeted, and effective policies.

Implications of COVID-19 pandemic on sustainable consumption patterns. Evidence from Iasi County, Romania

Across the literature, two broad behavior strategies toward sustainable food consumption are emphasized across the literature. The first strategy is related to sustainable product choices concerning how the outcome is produced, while the second one keeps a check on sustainable dietary patterns in terms of the composition within product categories. Considering these behavior strategies, while focusing especially on purchasing sustainable organic foods and preferring curtailment behaviors, conversion to this type of intake became a relevant objective among the specialists established for attaining sustainability. Consequently, the aim of this study was to observe the main changes in sustainable consumption patterns concerning these behavior strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic (August 2020), compared to the previous period (November–December 2019), in Iasi County, Romania. This study emphasizes an image of daily consumption that has been changed, at least regarding some specific aspects, due to the pandemic in the investigated Romanian context. First, the tendency to shop more during the working days could be generally observed and completed by the fact that the consumers felt safer in open spaces, like the food markets, compared to close spaces, be they supermarkets or grocery stores. Next, other main results showed that (1) the responsibility of consumers increased with regard to the purchase and waste of fresh vegetables and meat, preferring to buy more often and throw away less during the pandemic; (2) the behavior strategy in terms of organic food seemed to be discouraged in this period; and (3) local food appeared to have increased consumers' support. In addition, the pandemic crisis was shown as a driver in the digitalization of the shopping process. Accordingly, the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to have significant effects on sustainable consumption over the short and (at least) medium run, determining some changes in consumption patterns that could support, to a considerable extent, the effort of attaining a more sustainable path. However, our findings revealed some gaps in terms of societal knowledge about sustainable consumption and, consequently, call for the necessity of educating individuals on what this concept really means and why it is important to be achieved.

Socio-psychological determinants of Iranian rural households' adoption of water consumption curtailment behaviors

Dealing with a growing population and a shortage of drinking water is a major challenge for politicians and planners. A key factor in ensuring a sustainable water supply is water conservation at the household level, which can increase productivity and save water resources. Therefore, promoting water consumption curtailment behavior will contribute significantly to reducing the global water crisis, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Water consumption curtailment behaviors depend on individuals’ encouragement to choose and adopt voluntary behaviors and cannot be enforced by any political or planning power. In order to encourage water conservation those social and psychological factors should be considered that influence individuals to participate or adopt water consumption curtailment behaviors. Therefore, the study of factors influencing rural households' water consumption curtailment behaviors is of great importance. This study aimed to describe the socio-psychological factors influencing water consumption curtailment behaviors among rural households in southwestern Iran. The extended theory of planned behavior (ETPB) was used as a theoretical framework in this study along with descriptive norms (DN), moral norms (MN), habits, and justification. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results showed that ETPB can explain 35% and 54% of intention and water consumption curtailment behaviors among rural households in Iran. Our findings may assist policymakers in reducing domestic water consumption.

The Influence of Environmental Awareness on Responsible Energy Consumption—The Case of Households in Poland

The growing impact of consumption on the environment has been attracting much attention from academics for the last couple of decades and has caused inquiries into the antecedents of responsible consumption. Previous studies focused on analyzing different antecedents of responsible consumption in various areas and contexts. However, very few studies investigated the antecedents of responsible consumption in the energy sector, and only a few referred to emerging European countries. The aim of the paper is to examine the effect of environmental awareness on responsible energy consumption. Data for this study have been collected using the survey methodology. A total of 1407 households were selected as a sample for the CAWI methods of gathering data. The territory of the study population is Poland. The methodology of research involves several measurement scales of theoretical constructs. The constructs′ reliability coefficients, as well as discriminant and convergent validity indices, showed an adequate level of measurement quality. Based on reliable and valid latent variables, the comparative analysis of mediated path models with moderated mediation is estimated. Structural causal modeling with d-separation check and sensitivity analysis of indirect causal paths is applied to test the causal research hypothesis under study. The research results confirm the significant mediational role of mobilizing attitude and environmental awareness in explaining relationships between perceived consumer effectiveness and energy efficiency and curtailment behaviors.

Predicting Pro-environmental Behaviors of Green Electronic Appliances’ Users

Grounded in the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model, the current study examines the direct and indirect impact of green advertisement as an external stimulus and pro-environmental self-identity and perceived environmental responsibility as internal stimuli on consumers’ pro-environmental behaviors via an underlying mechanism of their engagement in sustainable consumption for green electronics. A quantitative research approach with a snowball sampling technique was applied to collect data from 477 consumers buying and using green electronics. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results showed the positive association of environmental advertisement, pro-environmental self-identity, and perceived environmental responsibility with consumers’ pro-environmental behaviors. Moreover, results also revealed that consumers’ engagement in sustainable consumption acts as an internal derive (organism) that transmits the effect of various internal and external stimuli to consumers’ responses in the form of green buying and curtailment behaviors. In addition to examining the mediatory role of a unique construct of consumers’ engagement in sustainable consumption, the current study also extended the existing theory and literature by examining the impact of external as well as internal stimuli on consumers’ pro-environmental behaviors. Furthermore, several theoretical and practical implications are discussed in detail.

Evaluating energy saving behavioral interventions through the lens of social practice theory: A case study in Hong Kong

Foreseeable energy savings can be obtained by guiding curtailment behaviors through behavioral interventions. However, the underlying mechanism behind behavioral interventions remains largely unknown. This study aims to examine how behavioral interventions impact occupant behavior and energy use in buildings from a systematic perspective, especially cooling-related behaviors in subtropical areas. First, a theoretical framework was established using social practice theory to demonstrate the dynamics of occupant behavior from three interconnected phases, namely “material”, “behavior” and “cognition”. Following this, the behavioral change process was simulated under the proposed framework, supported by sub-models of building energy, occupant behavior, and social psychology. The sub-models were verified by survey data from 290 effective participants and in-situ monitoring data in 12 dormitory rooms of a university in Hong Kong. Simulation results show that behavioral interventions can help to reduce the air conditioning electricity use in the case building by 15%–18%. However, many uncertainties exist, and the effectiveness of such interventions is determined by multiple correlated factors, such as the original behavior mode, comfort demand, energy saving beliefs and the intervention time. The findings enable a better understanding of the dynamics of occupant behavior and inspire future studies on behavioral interventions with the novel methodology.

Rooftop solar for all: Closing the gap between the technically possible and the achievable

Estimating the technical potential of carbon-abatement options involves straightforward calculations, while estimating the achievable potential is more challenging. We illustrate this by examining solar photovoltaics (PV). We estimate that a 92% gap exists between the achievable and technical potential for rooftop solar in Georgia and it is shrinking slowly, while in contrast the state’s solar farms are rapidly expanding. Closing the gap between the technically possible and achievable levels of solar PV requires an understanding of why some electricity providers promote utility-scale solar and not solar rooftop systems. Our financial analysis suggests that rooftop PV on buildings in Georgia could deliver substantial economic benefits to host customers, if utilities offered favorable net metering rates and if host customers, in turn, curtailed their consumption. Comparing the slow diffusion of rooftop solar in Georgia with California and Massachusetts that are rapidly solarizing, underscores the need to develop methodologies that account for utility business models, policy interventions, and behavioral factors. A sensitivity analysis of alternative net metering policies, rebound and curtailment behaviors, a stakeholder analysis, and an assessment of barriers and accelerants documents that these factors are as important as techno-economic drivers in explaining solar technology transitions. Given the numerous barriers to adoption by low- and moderate-income households, an equitable solar transition requires business models and policies that foster participation by all.

Outcome expectancies moderate the association between worry about climate change and personal energy-saving behaviors.

This paper explores whether efficacy beliefs can alter the relationship between worry about climate change and personal energy-saving behaviors, controlling for climate change beliefs and socio-demographics. For this purpose, we used data from 23 countries that participated in the European Social Survey Round 8 (N = 44 387). Worry about climate change, personal efficacy, personal outcome expectancy, and collective outcome expectancy were each associated with personal energy-saving behaviors concerning either energy curtailment or energy efficiency. The results further show that outcome expectancies moderate the association between worry about climate change and both types of energy behaviors. Worry was more strongly related to energy curtailment behaviors among those with high levels of personal and collective outcome expectancy. A similar pattern was found for energy efficiency behaviors, which were more strongly predicted by worry about climate change when combined with high levels of collective outcome expectancy. These findings are relevant for climate change communication, especially informational campaigns aiming to lower overall household energy use.

The Functionality of Dissimilarity: Pro-Environmental Behavior through Heterogenous Networks

This study explores whether social interaction with dissimilar others can lead to pro-environmental behavior. Dissimilar others are people who differ from the person in question (e.g., in terms of lifestyle or culture). While most research focuses on homogenous social networks (e.g., spatial communities), we explore the potential of network heterophily. Specifically, using data (n = 1370) from the Flemish Survey on Sociocultural Shifts, we examine the relationship between network heterophily and pro-environmental behavior (i.e., shopping decisions and curtailment behavior). Building on Granovetter’s study on ‘the strength of weak ties’, we emphasize the importance of social ties that provide novel information and social expectations. Through interaction with dissimilar others, people may create a heterogeneous network in which a diversity of information and social expectations with regard to pro-environmental behavior circulates. We expect that network heterophily may foster pro-environmental behavior. Our findings indicate that pro-environmental behavior may indeed be positively related to interaction with dissimilar others, partly because people with many dissimilar ties know more about environmental problems and are more concerned about them. This study therefore shows that network heterophily promotes pro-environmental behavior. The paper concludes with a discussion of the functionality of dissimilarity and some avenues for future research.

The Role of Curtailment Versus Efficiency on Spillovers Among Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Evidence from Two Towns in Granada, Spain

In this paper we explore the existence of behavioral consistency between individuals’ pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors in related domains (cross-domain), distinguishing between the following two types of behaviors that the literature has identified as entailing different levels of sacrifice on the part of the individual: curtailment, i.e., implying the adoption of daily habits, and efficiency behaviors, i.e., installation of efficient devices. Using a dataset on bottled water demand from two cities in southern Spain, we find evidence of behavioral consistency between the undertaking of certain pro-environmental habits related to household water consumption and the decision to consume (or not) bottled water. These effects are found only when curtailment behaviors are considered, but not in relation to efficiency behaviors. Moreover, our results suggest that policies fostering pro-environmental habits could prove more successful than the ones promoting pro-environmental attitudes or awareness. These results have important implications for the design of environmental campaigns and rebate programs.

Young energy savers: Exploring the role of parents, peers, media and schools in saving energy among children in Belgium

Climate change is one of the biggest threats our world is facing. Therefore, reducing energy consumption and energy waste are of significant importance. Although children are the main beneficiaries of all efforts done to impact climate change, not much is known about young children's energy curtailment literacy, which refers to children's knowledge, attitudes and moral reflections related to reducing energy waste by performing curtailment behavior, and the impact different socialization agents might have on the development of energy curtailment literacy. In this paper, 29 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in Belgium with children between the age of 6 and 12 to get better insights in their energy curtailment literacy and in how this is impacted by different socialization agents. Results show that children have strong self-efficacy beliefs toward curtailment behavior. They experience negative emotions when talking about the consequences of climate change and the fact that energy is often wasted. Energy waste was also evaluated as immoral behavior. Especially older children have some basic understanding of climate change and energy while the impact of energy use on the environment stays unclear. Most children perform energy curtailment out of personal preference or their willingness to conform to a set norm instead of its environmental impact. Parents and teachers appear to have the biggest impact on the formation of children's energy curtailment literacy and are therefore considered to be the main socialization agents. The influence of media and peers appears to be less strong among these young children.

Analyzing differences between different types of pro-environmental behaviors: Do attitude intensity and type of knowledge matter?

This study explores whether the associations between general environmental attitudes and pro-environmental behaviors are heterogeneous and whether these associations depend on attitude intensity and the specific pro-environmental behavior. The study also examines the association between objective and subjective knowledge and behavior and the relationship with socioeconomic and personal characteristics. Mixed effects logistic regressions were performed using data from a representative nationwide survey of Spanish citizens aged 18 to 90 years (N = 2495). The results revealed interesting patterns of heterogeneity. First, only curtailment behaviors (separating trash and using street trash cans) were significantly associated with general environmental attitudes. This result was observed only for the highest level of environmental attitudes. Second, whereas subjective knowledge was associated with all pro-environmental behaviors, objective knowledge was only associated with efficiency behavior (using energy-efficient light bulbs). Finally, men showed lower levels of reported behavior than women for all pro-environmental activities. The policy implications of these findings are discussed.

Preaching to the middle of the road

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore strategic differences in marketing communication tactics for vegan and humane meat brands.Design/methodology/approachContent analysis was used to categorize the types of persuasive appeals used on the packaging of vegan and humane meat brands.FindingsHumane meat brands use animal welfare and environmental appeals more often whereas vegan brands use taste appeals more frequently.Social implicationsMarketers’ communication strategies for alternatives to traditional meat consumption are different from those of activists and non-profit organizations. By targeting middle of the road consumers, both vegan and humane brands can support widespread efficient and curtailment behaviors and in the process benefit consumers, the brands and society.Originality/valueAnti-consumption and/or reduction of meat and animal by-products are arguably the most impactful ways in which consumers can alter their diets to positively impact individual and societal well-being. Consumers seeking alternatives to traditional meat consumption may either chose more sustainable meat products (efficient behaviors) or reduce/eliminate meat consumption (curtailment behaviors). Existing research suggests that such consumers can be divided into two segments – those driven by personal motives (health and/or taste) and those motivated by prosocial concern (environmental sustainability and/or animal welfare) and brands should match persuasive appeals to consumer motives, i.e. curtailment-focused vegan brands should use environmental or animal justice appeals and efficiency-focused humane meat brands should use taste or health appeals. However, the present research assumes marketers’ perspective and demonstrates that both vegan and humane brands target middle of the road consumers striving to balance multiple personal and prosocial goals, being socially responsible without compromising taste.

Fuzzy model of residential energy decision-making considering behavioral economic concepts

To gain a fundamental understanding of the factors driving consumer energy behavior and for more effective policy-making, the development of energy consumption models taking into account key behavioral economic concepts is essential. In this direction, this paper presents a fuzzy logic decision-making model incorporating the concepts of bounded rationality, time discounting of gains, and pro-environmental behavior. The fuzzy model is used to characterize and predict consumer energy efficiency and curtailment behaviors in the context of residential cooling energy consumption. The model is developed from the perspective of the human decision-maker and the rules based on human reasoning and intuition. It takes into consideration monetary, personal comfort and environmental responsibility variables to yield predictions of one’s air-conditioning purchase and usage decisions. The results from running the model multiple times to simulate a real large urban population are found to match historical cooling energy use data reasonably well. This allows modelers some degree of confidence in the model. Moreover, perturbing key input variables produces plausible behaviors, thus providing additional validation to the model. This work demonstrates the feasibility of fuzzy logic as a powerful method for combining quantitative economic and physical factors with qualitative behavioral concepts in a single mathematical framework for better prediction of human energy behavior, and greater fundamental understanding of the “why” behind energy use that conventional building energy simulation models do not address.

Appraising the influence of pro-environmental self-identity on sustainable consumption buying and curtailment in emerging markets: Evidence from China and Poland

Understanding sustainable consumption buying and curtailment behavior in emerging markets is limited, yet this knowledge is vital to the future of these economies. The newer conceptualization of pro-environmental self-identity (PESI), as environmentally-friendly dynamic-self, can significantly inform comprehension of these behaviors, and strengthen them. Utilizing intra-personal influences and situational cueing, this paper appraises the influence of PESI on the sustainable buying and curtailment behaviors of consumers in China and Poland. Surveying these consumers, PESI was confirmed as a significant influence on their buying and curtailment behaviors. Contextual and behavioral distinctions also emerged, highlighting a buying emphasis in China and curtailment orientation in Poland. Notably, PESI was found to be multi-activated by situational cueing, moral responsibility, assessment, social desirability, tinted by consumer effectiveness and knowledge. Important implications arise for eco-innovation and buying and curtailment policy-making in emerging markets. PESI consumers have a potential active stakeholder role in this innovation and policy development.

Social signals and sustainability: ambiguity about motivations can affect status perceptions of efficiency and curtailment behaviors

Perceived status can affect the diffusion of pro-environmental behaviors and sustainable consumption. However, the status of different forms of sustainable consumption has not been adequately explored. Previous studies suggest that curtailment behaviors are associated with low or neutral status, while efficiency behaviors are associated with high status. However, these studies have generally examined a small number of behaviors. Drawing from costly signaling theory, we developed a mixed methods study to explore whether and why pro-environmental behaviors are perceived to be associated with high or low status, the perceived motivation for those behaviors, and the relationship between motivation and status. We conducted structured, interactive interviews with 71 participants to explore perceptions of 19 behaviors. Using quantitative and qualitative analyses, we find that efficiency is rated higher status than curtailment largely due to monetary considerations. Efficiency is also perceived to be motivated by environmental concern to a greater degree than curtailment. Understanding the motivation for behaviors clarifies the social signal because it provides insights into whether one is incurring personal costs. Importantly, it is often unclear whether low-cost curtailment behaviors are adopted by choice rather than financial need. Ambiguity about the intentionality of behaviors results in such behaviors being perceived as lower status. Those who argue that curtailment will be necessary for long-term sustainability must address status perceptions because social stigmas could hinder their adoption. Overcoming such stigmas may require, indicating that curtailment behaviors are voluntary, but it may be more effective to use social or economic mechanisms to increase efficiency behaviors.