WHY – Climbing the causality ladder to understand and project the energy demand of the residential sector 

Energy models often treat energy demand as static or overly simplified, overlooking human behaviour and social dynamics. WHY tackled this gap by developing models that reflect actual household decision-making.

This directly supports RGI’s Energy System Planning work by improving the integration of realistic demand-side flexibility, consumer patterns, and behavioural factors into system-level modelling. 

Project implementation

The project combined empirical data with social science insights to create a modular WHY Toolkit that models behavioural changes in household energy use under different policy scenarios.

RGI contributed by engaging stakeholders to ensure the toolkit reflected societal needs and regulatory contexts. Use cases in countries like Spain, Germany, and Croatia illustrated how behavioural insights can reshape long-term energy planning and carbon reduction pathways. The results help policymakers and planners design more effective, people-centric energy transition strategies.