Automated Enforcement of Irrigation Regulations and Social Pressure for Water Conservation

West, J.W.; Fairlie, Robert W.; Pratt, Bryan E.; Rose, Liam

doi:10.1086/715472

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Secondly, the presence of incentives may alter the effect of interventions invoking social norms, pro-environmental attitudes and other intrinsic motives (Drews et al, 2020 ; but see Brent and Wichman, 2020 ; West et al, 2021 ). Results reported by Sudarshan ( 2017 ) showcase the potential importance of this issue for energy conservation campaigns.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Norms, prices, and commitment: A comprehensive overview of field experiments in the energy domain and treatment effect moderators

et al. 2022

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This paper provides a comprehensive overview of field experiments utilizing social norms, commitment and price-based interventions to promote energy conservation, load shifting, and energy efficiency behaviors. Treatment effects reported in the extant literature, as well as the factors that may strengthen or dampen these effects are reviewed. We find that social norm and incentive-based interventions mostly achieve small reductions in energy consumption, and that the effects of commitment-based interventions are essentially zero for the most part. Incentive effects on energy efficiency investments are mostly non-existent, safe for a few exceptions. One gap that we identify is the almost complete absence of field experiments leveraging social norms or commitment to promote energy efficiency investments. We discuss a broad range of (mostly under-researched) plausible moderators of the interventions' effects. Crucially, a more careful attention to moderators in future research can highlight instances in which interventions can be effective, notwithstanding their modest or non-existent average treatment effects. Our review offers a starting point in this regard.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Norms, prices, and commitment: A comprehensive overview of field experiments in the energy domain and treatment effect moderators

et al. 2022

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A multi‐pronged approach consisting of enforcement; effective, strategic messaging; and changes to social norms may be required to achieve the desired water savings (AWE, 2020; West et al, 2021). Despite the efficacy of enforcement (Asci & Borisova, 2014; West et al, 2021), and likely relationship to awareness of these regulations, efforts are often inadequate and impeded by a lack of resources (Sisser et al, 2016). Educational materials and messages should be coordinated among all information sources, especially those preferred by respondents (water management districts, water utilities, HOA or neighborhood advisory committee).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Insights from residents under year‐round irrigation restrictions to improve water conservation impacts

et al. 2023

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Year‐round irrigation water restrictions can be effective water demand management tools if people adhere to them. Awareness and understanding of these regulations have important implications for compliance and long‐term water supply goals. This study quantified irrigation restriction awareness‐knowledge and how‐to knowledge using survey data from residents with automated irrigation systems. Only half of those subject to irrigation restrictions were aware of these regulations; these irrigation restriction aware individuals reported varying perceived allowable watering frequency, implying that misunderstandings exist. Education, living in a homeowners association, hiring specific professionals, and information‐seeking preferences distinguished irrigation restriction aware from unaware individuals. Binary logistic regression revealed that when considered together, race, education, income, hiring a professional for fertilizer application, and living in a homeowner association significantly influence awareness‐knowledge. There are important opportunities to improve conservation outcomes by increasing both awareness and accuracy among target audience members.

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“…The most comparable study isWest, Fairlie, Pratt, and Rose (2021) which examines a similar excessive-use-threshold policy that was announced but never went into place. Without prior announcement, the city identified households that would have been in violation during one earlier week had the policy been in place, and notified them of this hypothetical violation and of the fine schedule.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Man vs. Machine: Technological Promise and Political Limits of Automated Regulation Enforcement

Browne¹,

Gazzè²,

Greenstone³

et al. 2023

The Review of Economics and Statistics

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New technologies allow perfect detection of environmental violations at near-zero marginal cost, but take-up is low. We conducted a field experiment to evaluate enforcement of water conservation rules with smart meters in Fresno, CA. Households were randomly assigned combinations of enforcement method (automated or in-person inspections) and fines. Automated enforcement increased households' punishment rates from 0.1 to 14%, decreased summer water use by 3%, and reduced violations by 17%, while higher fine levels had little effect. However, automated enforcement also increased customer complaints by 1,102%, ultimately causing its cancellation and highlighting that political considerations limit technological solutions to enforcement challenges.

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Automated Enforcement of Irrigation Regulations and Social Pressure for Water Conservation

Cited by 8 publications

References 27 publications

Norms, prices, and commitment: A comprehensive overview of field experiments in the energy domain and treatment effect moderators

Norms, prices, and commitment: A comprehensive overview of field experiments in the energy domain and treatment effect moderators

Insights from residents under year‐round irrigation restrictions to improve water conservation impacts

Man vs. Machine: Technological Promise and Political Limits of Automated Regulation Enforcement

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