Voluntary, Public Goal setting, and Energy Conservation: Evidence from a RCT in Student dormitories

Last registered on December 12, 2024
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Voluntary, Public Goal setting, and Energy Conservation: Evidence from a RCT in Student dormitories
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0014909
Initial registration date
December 09, 2024

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
December 12, 2024, 11:42 AM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Primary Investigator

Name
Botao Qin
Affiliation
Xi'an Jiaotong University
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Man Gou
PI Affiliation
Xi'an Jiaotong Univ.
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Chenyang Xu
PI Affiliation
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2024-11-18
End date
2025-06-01
Keywords
Environment & Energy, Gender
Additional Keywords
Goal setting
JEL code(s)
C93; D10; Q41
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
As the world's largest carbon emissioner, China has set a "Dual Carbon” Goal，which is to reach carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutral by 2060. To achieve this goal, reduce electricity use from residential buildings are needed. Previous literature find setting an electricity use reduction goal is effective. This study will further explore if public goal setting is more effective relative to the private goal setting. In addition, we will explore the gender difference in goal setting.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Gou, Man, Botao Qin and Chenyang Xu. 2024. "Voluntary, Public Goal setting, and Energy Conservation: Evidence from a RCT in Student dormitories ." AEA RCT Registry. December 12. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.14909-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
We have two treatment groups. One is the voluntary goal setting and the other is public goal setting.
Intervention Start Date
2024-11-29
Intervention End Date
2025-01-18

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Electricity use
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We will run the experiment in student dormitories. The dorms will be randomly divided into three groups: a control and two treatment groups. One treatment is to allow each dorm to set its own goal of electricity reduction; the other treatment is to allow each dorm to set its electricity reduction goal and then publicize it to the public.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
use a computer program to randomize the dorms.
Randomization Unit
dorms.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
2 buildings
Sample size: planned number of observations
150 dorms
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
50 dorms control, 50 dorms both treatments
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan