Nudging for Cleaner Air: Experimental Evidence from an RCT on Wood Stove Usage

Abstract Air pollution from wood burning is a serious problem in the developing world. In cities of south-central Chile, households experience extremely high ambient air levels due to massive combustion as fuel for residential heating. To address this problem, recent years new stoves—equipped with improved technologies that are designed be less-polluting—have replaced high-polluting ones. However, users’ behaviour operating these stoves key factor drives actual emissions. When users ‘choke damper’ extend time their fuel, it constrains flow and creates highly polluting process. issue, behavioural intervention was provide real-time feedback on stoves’ emissions goal ‘nudging’ them use less way. The consists an information sign aligns stove’s damper lever informs about emission according chosen setting damper. complemented by visit field assistant explains provides informational flyer (fridge magnet). assess effectiveness randomized controlled trial conducted selected city Valdivia, Chile. Results show were provided reduced frequency which they used most settings stoves, inducing change results 10.8% reduction