Lessons for integrated household energy conservation policy from Singapore’s southwest Eco‐living Program

This study describes a district‐level energy intervention and conservation program designed and implemented with the help of community stakeholders, which include students and staff of an educational institution, the National University of Singapore, a local non‐governmental environmental group in Singapore and the district government. The program – known formally as the Eco‐living Program – was funded by the district government and implemented in the Hong Kah North Residential Council in the south western part of Singapore. The research objectives are three‐fold: (1) compare the effectiveness of different intervention methods, based on self‐reported behavior scores and actual electricity reduction; (2) investigate how behavior and electricity consumption are influenced by values, situational and psychological factors; (3) assess the effectiveness of different methods of intervention and provide recommendations for improvement. It was found that a combined use of leaflets and stickers resulted in highest (that is, 15.8%) reduction in average consumption. Ease of practicing the recommended energy conservation actions is a strong motivators to change energy consumption behavior. This program exemplifies the important role that community‐initiated bottom‐up programs can play in promoting sustainable consumption with the financial support from the local (district) government.