Rebound effect: what’s behind it

The rebound effect is a term that often crops up in discussions about energy efficiency and environmental protection. It makes sense to take a closer look at this phenomenon

Rebound effect: What you should know about it

Before you delve deeper into the rebound effect, it is important to understand how it works and why it can occur. A distinction is made between the direct and indirect rebound effect.

• The direct rebound effect occurs when an improvement in energy efficiency leads to a reduction in the cost of using a particular technology. This can lead to people using this technology more frequently and more intensively as it is now cheaper.

• A classic example is the installation of energy-efficient heating systems in residential buildings. If heating costs fall due to the increase in efficiency, residents may tend to heat their rooms more or leave the heating on for longer periods of time, which in turn leads to higher overall energy consumption.

• The indirect rebound effect occurs when the costs saved due to increased efficiency are used for other purposes, which in turn consume energy.

• This could be the case, for example, if someone who saves money by using energy-saving technologies uses this extra money for leisure activities that consume a lot of energy, such as traveling by plane or buying consumer goods. Thus, the savings do not lead to a reduction in overall energy consumption, but are instead used for other energy-intensive purposes.

Effects of the rebound effect

The effects of the rebound effect are diverse and can have both positive and negative consequences.

• The rebound effect can mean that the savings from improved efficiency are at least partially negated, which can lead to increased environmental pollution.

• On an economic level, it can lead to a distortion of prices, as the cost of energy may not fall as much as it would without the effect. This in turn can have an impact on the competitiveness of various sectors.

• It can also have a social impact, as the availability of energy has an influence on various areas of life, from mobility to nutrition.

• It is a challenge for policy makers, as they need to ensure that measures to improve energy efficiency actually achieve the desired results.

• There are various approaches that can be used to mitigate the rebound effect, from promoting behavioral change to developing new technologies that enable sustainable use of resources.