Understanding the dual path to household energy-conservation: appliance purchases and energy-saving behaviour in Spain

Reducing household energy consumption is essential for meeting long-term climate and energy goals. This paper explores two key household-level actions for energy-conservation— investment in energy efficiency (EE) and engagement in energy-saving behaviours—and examines potential interconnections between them. Using original survey data from 500 Spanish households on washing machine purchases, we analyse the determinants of both the adoption of highly energy-efficient washing machines and the implementation of daily energy-saving practices. The results show that attitudes towards EE and the environment, risk and time preferences, prior experiences and habits, socio-economic characteristics, and EE policy measures are associated with both actions. However, the specific determinants often differ across the two energy-conservation dimensions or exert distinct effects. Moreover, we find no evidence of a significant causal effect of the purchase of energy-efficient appliances on the adoption of energy-saving behaviour, or vice versa. This suggests that focusing exclusively on a single conservation strategy may be insufficient to effectively reduce household energy consumption. Instead, a dual-pathway approach is required. Policies should therefore promote both the uptake of energy-efficient technologies and the adoption of curtailment behaviours. Our results suggest that a combination of informational, economic, and financial policy tools can contribute to more comprehensive household energy conservation.