What people know about household energy use: assessing public understanding of energy consumption

Improving public knowledge of everyday energy consumption holds considerable potential for promoting energy-saving behaviour in households. To support the design and evaluation of relevant educational and policy interventions, this study develops and validates a new measurement instrument to assess knowledge about everyday energy values. Key content areas were identified through extensive literature review to ensure content validity, and a range of item types was created. The instrument was refined through qualitative and quantitative pilot phases, with validity arguments collected at each stage. A cross-sectional survey conducted in German-speaking countries (N = 447) provided evidence for the instrument's validity. On average, participants answered 64 % of the test items correctly, with significant differences observed across socio-demographic groups (e.g. gender, age, education, and STEM affiliation). The findings highlight widespread gaps in everyday energy knowledge, particularly among younger and non-STEM populations. Given its demonstrated validity, the instrument can serve as a tool for assessing baseline knowledge and informing targeted interventions. Promoting practical energy knowledge among households may contribute to achieving national energy efficiency and climate policy goals.