Open Journal of Energy Efficiency, 2017, 6, 14-40 http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojee ISSN Online: 2169-2645 ISSN Print: 2169-2637 DOI: 10.4236/ojee.2017.61002 March 31, 2017 Case Study Evidence and Behavioural Analysis of Residential Energy Consumption in the UK Sven Hallin 1 , Elizabeth Hooper 2 , Thomas Weyman-Jones 2 1 London-Loughborough Centre for Doctoral Research in Energy Demand, School of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK 2 School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK Abstract This paper investigates residential energy consumption in the UK by using a novel and topical approach based on behavioural analysis. A key lesson from recent advances in behavioural economics is that the responses of individuals to both policy incentives and uncertainty may differ from the predictions of classical rational optimising behaviour. By employing a focused case study approach using both quantitative and qualitative response analysis, it consid- ers the motivations of residential householders in the UK to reduce fossil fuel use, with additional perspectives from UK landlords, a global environmental NGO, a senior politician, and two senior stakeholder strategy managers from a large energy company. Our interpretative behavioural analysis shows that a variety of incentives are necessary to encourage behaviour change. However, case study participants largely agree on the beneficial role of government reg- ulation and efforts to “nudge” them in the right direction with regard to their energy use. As a means of more effectively reducing carbon dioxide emissions, we conclude that policy should focus on sustainable energy use. The findings allow us to understand why important recent policy initiatives such as the UK Green Deal failed to achieve their objectives and they suggest lessons for more effective incentive based policy making in the field of residential energy con- sumption. Keywords Energy Policy, Behavioural Economics, Incentives for Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Energy 1. Introduction This research aims to understand the motivations individuals have to save ener- How to cite this paper: Hallin, S., Hooper, E. and Weyman-Jones, T. (2017) Case Study Evidence and Behavioural Analysis of Resi- dential Energy Consumption in the UK. Open Journal of Energy Efficiency, 6, 14- 40. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojee.2017.61002 Received: February 2, 2017 Accepted: March 28, 2017 Published: March 31, 2017 Copyright © 2017 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access