Unravelling consumers sustainable energy practices – interview
06/13/2025
Consumer behavior will play a fundamental role in the transition towards a more sustainable and cleaner energy future. Some estimates indicate as many of 70% the outcomes of the energy transition depend on people changing their behavior. While the term ‘energy efficiency’ refers to focuses on consuming energy better, ‘energy sufficiency’ refers to actively consuming less energy in our daily activities. What drives consumers to adopt these two types of sustainable behaviors? And should we be wary of a potential “rebound effect” – when consumers who become more energy efficient may inadvertently start to consume more? These were some of the questions that *Mélodie LACHAUD looked to answer in the framework of her Master’s thesis, which recently won the ICOR Prize. We spoke to *Melodie and her thesis director, Professor **Uyanga TURMUNKH, about the findings of this work.