Project

In order to achieve sustainable economic development, it is essential to reduce our consumption of energetic and non-energetic resources. In Germany, a variety of environmental policies has led to a significant increase in energy and resource efficiency. However, so far, there has been no reduction of resource consumption and environmental impacts in absolute terms, and the progress achieved is more moderate than expected. Amongst other reasons, this is also due to rebound effects.

If the production or usage of a product becomes more efficient, its financial and environmental impacts are reduced. The associated reduction in costs, however, may induce an increase in the demand for products and services. Non-financial influences, such as changes in norms or attitudes as well as insufficient knowledge about how to use efficient technologies optimally may also cause behavioural changes which lead to increased demand, and thus to rebound effects. This increased demand may affect the efficient product itself, or other products and areas. Up to now, however, the evidence for the magnitude of rebound effects in different areas is controversial and limited. In particular, very little research has been done on the drivers of rebound effects. Moreover, the general impact of environmental policies with regard to rebound effects has not been studied systematically so far.

However, knowledge about the relevant areas and drivers of rebound effects is crucial in order to take such effects into account when estimating the impact of environmental policies. Ideally, this knowledge could then be used to contain rebound effects. This is the starting point of this research project, which is funded by the UBA (Federal Environment Agency). The project focuses on rebound effects on the consumption of energetic and non-energetic resources.