ORIGINAL ARTICLE Home appliances’ rebound effects estimated by a modified nonlinear model: an empirical study in South Korea Sang-Hyeon Jin Received: 13 July 2017 /Accepted: 17 April 2019 /Published online: 9 May 2019 # Springer Nature B.V. 2019 Abstract Energy efficiency improvement is an impor- tant measure in the age of climate change. However, efficiency improvement also has severe side effects, known as the rebound effect. In this context, to improve the accuracy of estimates of rebound effects, this study attempts to modify the previous nonlinear model by including an income variable. Data from the BSurvey of Electricity Consumption Characteristics of Home Appliances^ were utilized. The hypothetical targets for efficiency improvement include the following four ma- jor home appliances: televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners. The analysis results show a reasonable positive value of the income effect. Therefore, rebound effects become marginally smaller owing to the elimination of this confounding factor. Additionally, rebound effects vary considerably at the level of individual home appliances. In conclusion, policymakers should prudently consider rebound effects to ensure the success of energy efficiency policies. Keywords Jevons’ paradox . Khazzoom–Brookes postulate . Backfire effect . Super conservation . Direct estimation Introduction In December 2015, to solve the problem of global warming, the United Nations adopted the BParis Agreement.^ It was a breakthrough in international ne- gotiations related to climate change, as the agreement established a concrete target for the stabilization of the global average temperature. Furthermore, due to this agreement, all developed and developing countries ob- ligated themselves to participate in actions to mitigate climate change (UN 2015). In terms of climate change, the International Energy Agency argues that efficiency improvement is the most important policy measure. In fact, a number of interna- tional organizations have suggested various scenarios containing energy efficiency improvement programs (Barker et al. 2009, Urge-Vorsatz and Metz, 2009, Jonsso et al., 2011). According to a special report by this agency, efficiency improvement is estimated to have the potential to account for 49% of the total reduction in the scenario of greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 (IEA 2015). In this context, most governments have shown keen- ness toward energy efficiency programs for LEDs, building retrofitting, and hybrid vehicles. However, policymakers should consider not only the main effects of efficiency improvement but also the side effect, known as the Brebound effect.^ This effect is defined as the reduction in expected gains from the improve- ment in energy efficiency owing to behavioral responses (Nassen and Holmberg 2009, Vine et al. 2013). The rebound effect is related to the phenomenon in which Energy Efficiency (2019) 12:2187–2199 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-019-09795-x S.<H. Jin (*) School of Public Administration, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehakro, Bukgu, Daegu 702-701, Republic of Korea e-mail: upperhm@knu.ac.kr