Received: 30 September 2017 Revised: 28 March 2018 Accepted: 30 March 2018 DOI: 10.1002/wcc.525 OVERVIEW Domestic energy consumption and climate change mitigation Wokje Abrahamse1 | Rachael Shwom2 1School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, In this overview, we use domestic energy use as a lens through which to look at cli- Wellington, New Zealand mate change mitigation. First, we provide a brief overview of research on domestic 2Department of Human Ecology, Rutgers energy use, covering four main disciplines: engineering, economics, psychology, University School of Environmental and and sociology. We then discuss the results of empirical studies that examine how Biological Sciences, New Brunswick, New Jersey households may be encouraged to reduce their energy use and help mitigate climate Correspondence Wokje Abrahamse, School of Geography, change. We include research findings in three key areas: technological innovations, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria economic incentives, and informational interventions. We outline the effectiveness University of Wellington, P.O. Box of each of these approaches in encouraging domestic energy conservation and pro- 600, Wellington 6012, New Zealand. Email:
[email protected] vide instances where such approaches have not been effective. Building on this established body of knowledge on direct energy consumption (i.e., electricity, gas, and fuel consumption), we highlight applications for addressing indirect energy consumption (i.e., energy embedded in the products households consume) by dis- Edited by Lorraine Whitmarsh, Domain Editor, and Mike Hulme, Editor-in-Chief cussing its implications for sustainable food consumption as a climate mitigation option. We conclude this overview by outlining how research from the four disci- plines might be better integrated in future research to advance domestic energy conservation theory and empirical studies.