Cognitive Biases in Building Energy Decisions

Research on sustainability in the building sector currently focuses mainly technical solutions while little attention is given to how behaviour influences uptake of these solutions. Bounded rationality may have a significant impact effective implementation more sustainable technologies that are already available. However, empirical evidence effects bounded sector, such as cognitive biases, still lacking. Here, we present an investigation four biases environment, namely framing, anchor, default, and decoy effect. For that, energy-related decisions situations were presented approximately 270 participants online survey. Our results show awareness greenhouse gas emissions from buildings can be raised through framing willingness pay for energy-efficient home increased by presenting it choices shifted towards appliances using decoy. The hypothesis anchoring increases installation solar system could not supported. These findings decrease lack data context further indicate potential choice architecture environment. influence should used increase adaptation technologies.