Saving energy for a more sustainable future.

Purely technological solutions will not solve today’s ecological challenges on their own, especially in the energy sector. There are several reasons for this. For instance, although many electronic applications are becoming more efficient, this tempts some people to increase their consumption – for example, by buying larger models of household appliances. As a result, less energy is saved than hoped. At the same time, renewable energy sources require large areas of land and provide lower energy density per square meter than conventional energy sources.

Therefore, in addition to innovative technological solutions, behavioral change is also necessary in Western countries. We are exploring how to engage citizens in making this change, for example, through incentives that do not undermine people’s autonomy and free choice.

To answer these questions, experts from the natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are working closely together with the general public in real-lab settings. Together, we want to find ways to save energy in everyday life.

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