3 THE IMPACT oF GERMAN ENERGY PoLICY oN HoUSEHoLD ENERGY USE
29
Framing the Energy Challenge
Brischke et al. (2016) argue that the existing policy measures that foster
the Energiewende in Germany concentrate primarily on improving energy
efficiency, and that they ignore energy-sufficiency strategies to a large
extent. They note that while energy efficiency in many sectors has been
consistently improved, total energy use has remained stable. They further note that efficiency is only one factor of total energy use, and point
to the fact that the technical characteristics (size, features, etc.), use patterns and total number of appliances have a significant bearing on overall
energy use. The authors further argue that energy efficiency improvements are being eaten up by higher levels of consumption and/or rising
expectations of comfort. Consequently, the authors argue that as there
are technical and economic limits on energy efficiency, energy sufficiency
will be an important aspect in the energy transition.
In the Energiesuffizienz study, energy was framed as a consumer
product that in and of itself held little interest for households in their
day-to-day lives, and that energy sufficiency measures should be developed in such a way that consumers become aware of which needs and
wishes are important for a high quality of life (and, conversely, which are
not). Departing from traditional policy interventions that try to reduce
the energy intensity of practices without questioning established consumption levels, the approach challenges this prevailing ‘optimization
orthodoxy’ by seeking to lower demand and reduce energy use.
Outcomes/Outputs
Brischke et al. (2016) found (among other observations) that energy sufficiency practices can play a large role in efforts to reduce energy use.
These sufficiency practices are already present in many households and
are regarded as normal. Moreover, they are not correlated with financial endowment and can be implemented irrespective of incomes. The
Energiesuffizienz Project also found that sufficiency practices are less
acceptable in leisure activities than during core household duties, and
that playing on people’s environmental consciousness or ‘guilt tripping’
people into action are not necessarily helpful strategies for promoting
sufficiency. Sufficiency thinking is largely incompatible with the current
29
Framing the Energy Challenge
Brischke et al. (2016) argue that the existing policy measures that foster
the Energiewende in Germany concentrate primarily on improving energy
efficiency, and that they ignore energy-sufficiency strategies to a large
extent. They note that while energy efficiency in many sectors has been
consistently improved, total energy use has remained stable. They further note that efficiency is only one factor of total energy use, and point
to the fact that the technical characteristics (size, features, etc.), use patterns and total number of appliances have a significant bearing on overall
energy use. The authors further argue that energy efficiency improvements are being eaten up by higher levels of consumption and/or rising
expectations of comfort. Consequently, the authors argue that as there
are technical and economic limits on energy efficiency, energy sufficiency
will be an important aspect in the energy transition.
In the Energiesuffizienz study, energy was framed as a consumer
product that in and of itself held little interest for households in their
day-to-day lives, and that energy sufficiency measures should be developed in such a way that consumers become aware of which needs and
wishes are important for a high quality of life (and, conversely, which are
not). Departing from traditional policy interventions that try to reduce
the energy intensity of practices without questioning established consumption levels, the approach challenges this prevailing ‘optimization
orthodoxy’ by seeking to lower demand and reduce energy use.
Outcomes/Outputs
Brischke et al. (2016) found (among other observations) that energy sufficiency practices can play a large role in efforts to reduce energy use.
These sufficiency practices are already present in many households and
are regarded as normal. Moreover, they are not correlated with financial endowment and can be implemented irrespective of incomes. The
Energiesuffizienz Project also found that sufficiency practices are less
acceptable in leisure activities than during core household duties, and
that playing on people’s environmental consciousness or ‘guilt tripping’
people into action are not necessarily helpful strategies for promoting
sufficiency. Sufficiency thinking is largely incompatible with the current