From micro behaviors to macro effects – Agent Based Modeling of environmental awareness spread and its effects on critical resource consumption

Abstract

The paper describes a model of mechanisms of social interaction and their effects on environmental collective behaviour. The overall goal of the presented research is to study how to reduce (or to optimize) the consumption of a critical or limited resource, leveraging on social norms and environmental awareness. We look at the individual behaviour from a perspective that goes beyond the traditional “homo economicus” paradigm by including psychological and societal influential mechanisms which may lead to more sustainable consumption patterns. We present an agent-based model to explore mechanisms of social influence and resource consumption as well as the smart metering functions that can be provided to households to facilitate their behavioural changes.