Report on survey data analysis: How do Czech households respond to different measures to increase energy efficiency?
Abstract
The objective of this study to examine the effect of information provided on individual's choice to buy efficient washing machine. Specific goal of the discrete choice experiments is to explore the effect of various policies on consumer's choice.
Analysing the preference for the EU energy label, energy consumption, and costs, we also elicit preferences for two possible instruments: a rebate on energy saving washing machine that would result in lowering its purchase price, and a pricing less efficient washing machine that would increase its price. In order to test possible adverse effect of "tax" tag on consumer behaviour, we randomly assigned tax or charge as the pricing instrument to each respondent.
In fact, we find now there are differences in individual preference for these three policy measurers. While a rebate is strongly appreciated, charging less efficient appliances is not accepted.
We find that washing machines, and particularly highly energy efficient are generally more preferred than the status quo. We can also conclude that individuals are more likely choose the highly efficient appliance if it is very efficient (A+++-50% or A+++-30%), whereas if less efficient appliance is rated by the label A+ and less, they are more likely to decide on less efficient appliance.
Further, we found that our respondents are quite well informed about purchase prices; majority of them stated a price of washing machine and refrigerator that are in reasonable range of current prices, resulting in mean values that are comparable with statistics on relevant market in the Czech Republic. Moreover, perceived expected price of washing machine and refrigerator corresponds to the attributes, which respondent stated that the appliance should have.
In fact, the estimated price differentials for certain attributes, including the EU energy class, are reasonable..