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In addition to the switch to renewable energies and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, climate policy also includes lower energy consumption. Politicians are relying on more energy-efficient technology to reduce energy consumption in society. But in most cases the actual savings are far less than technically expected. This phenomenon is known as the rebound effect.
When switching to renewable energies, the possible consequences for consumer behaviour are complex. Recent research suggests that switching to renewable energy can also lead to long-term behavioural changes with negative consequences for energy and resource consumption. Recent data show that this does not always have to be the case, showing that some green electricity consumers also consume less electricity after the switchover than before. It is therefore elementary not to view a change in consumer behaviour in isolation, but always to consider the effects on subsequent behaviour. This applies in particular to the conception of political measures such as incentives or levies in the energy sector in order to minimise undesirable rebound effects.