Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/237747 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. TI 2021-014/VIII
Publisher: 
Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam and Rotterdam
Abstract: 
We study the impact of audits on water conservation, distinguishing between the information and technological components. We observe water consumption for up to 18 months for 10,000 households in the South East of England who received the visit of a so-called Green Doctor. We find that water-saving devices decrease water consumption by 2-4%, with an effect that is persistent over 18 months. Devices reducing water pressure are particularly effective, while shower timers are ineffective. The information component of the water audit has a large initial impact, but this gradually fades to a drop in consumption of 2% after 12 months. Technology appears to be more cost-effective than information provision and this can help in the design of policy interventions.
Subjects: 
Water audits
Green Doctors
conservation
information
technology
JEL: 
Q25
H42
D12
L95
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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