Achieving painless energy conservation via equity-oriented efficiency nudge: evidence from electricity consumption in China

TY - JOUR

T1 - Achieving painless energy conservation via equity-oriented efficiency nudge

T2 - evidence from electricity consumption in China

AU - Zhao, Wenhui

AU - Su, Rina

AU - Zou, Pengyu

AU - Li, Yiming

AU - Yang, Bo

AU - Zhang, Bin

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025

PY - 2026/3/1

Y1 - 2026/3/1

N2 - Demand-side emission reduction is crucial yet often overlooked due to fragmented policies lacking balance between equity and efficiency. This study proposes a data-driven behavioral nudging framework based on the Equitable Electricity Efficiency (EEE) index, which quantifies household saving potential under social and environmental constraints while preserving welfare. EEE is estimated through a multi-method pipeline combining Meta-Frontier Analysis, ANN-DEA, SFA (Battese-Coelli, 1988), and Three-Stage DEA, identifying inefficiencies, distortions, and fairness-adjusted gaps. Analysis of large-scale Chinese household electricity data shows an average EEE of 70 %, implying a recoverable potential of 26.5 %–31.5 %, equal to 72.12 billion kWh and 5.66 million tons of CO₂ annually. Results reveal nonlinear patterns: middle-income, moderately aware households have the highest untapped efficiency; affluent users respond less; disadvantaged groups face structural barriers. Embedding fairness into nudges offers a scalable, interpretable, and inclusive path for equity-aware demand-side management and just energy transition.

AB - Demand-side emission reduction is crucial yet often overlooked due to fragmented policies lacking balance between equity and efficiency. This study proposes a data-driven behavioral nudging framework based on the Equitable Electricity Efficiency (EEE) index, which quantifies household saving potential under social and environmental constraints while preserving welfare. EEE is estimated through a multi-method pipeline combining Meta-Frontier Analysis, ANN-DEA, SFA (Battese-Coelli, 1988), and Three-Stage DEA, identifying inefficiencies, distortions, and fairness-adjusted gaps. Analysis of large-scale Chinese household electricity data shows an average EEE of 70 %, implying a recoverable potential of 26.5 %–31.5 %, equal to 72.12 billion kWh and 5.66 million tons of CO₂ annually. Results reveal nonlinear patterns: middle-income, moderately aware households have the highest untapped efficiency; affluent users respond less; disadvantaged groups face structural barriers. Embedding fairness into nudges offers a scalable, interpretable, and inclusive path for equity-aware demand-side management and just energy transition.

KW - Artificial neutral network

KW - Demand-side management

KW - Energy efficiency

KW - Equity

KW - Nudge

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024241565

U2 - 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108736

DO - 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108736

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105024241565

SN - 0921-3449

VL - 227

JO - Resources, Conservation and Recycling

JF - Resources, Conservation and Recycling

M1 - 108736

ER -