What's the Rebound Effect?
Energy efficiency increases should contribute to the reduction of energy consumption. Studies show, however, that despite improvements in efficiency, energy consumption often does not fall as much as expected - rebound effects occur.
Rebound Effects and Renewable Energies
The switch to renewable energies is not an energy efficiency measure as such, but also leads to a reduction in fossil energy consumption and thus to a reduction in resource consumption. If the residents subsequently consume more energy than before - or are less motivated to take further efficiency measures than they would have if they hadn’t started using renewable energy - the positive environmental effects can be eroded.