Work

Impact of time-saving technology on household electricity consumption: An automatic vacuum cleaner distribution experiment in Japan

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Time-saving technologies can raise people's standard of living by increasing their amount of disposable time. However, this may lead t the time-use rebound effect (TRE), wherein people reallocate their regained free time into actions that could affect energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this empirical study, we used a causal inference framework to test whether TRE occurs by conducting a distribution experiment of time-saving goods. We obtained data from a questionnaire about the daily time use of the households in our experiment. Our results showed that the random assignment of time-saving goods leads to a time reallocation of household behaviour. These goods increased electricity use, although their magnitude is relatively small at 1.83% of household electricity consumption.

Source: Ecological Economics

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108231

Authors: Kenichi Mizobuchi, Yamagami Hiroaki

Institutions: Matsuyama University, Seikei University

Language: English

Topic: Energy, Environment, and Transportation Policies

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,690

Funders: Sumitomo Foundation, Seikei University, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science