## 4 Factors Affecting HErC
### Awareness and Norms  
Awareness and norms, as key factors influencing HErC, play a particularly crucial role. Environmental ideology, behavioral attitudes, and social norms are interconnected and interact, profoundly affecting household energy consumption and carbon emissions at various levels. Environmental ideology is an intrinsic driver of HErC and plays a crucial role in shaping household lifestyles [68]. It directly impacts HErC by affecting households' subjective intentions [69]. [PERSON] et al. found that urban residents who identify as environmentalists consume fewer resources [70], suggesting that households with stronger environmental awareness are more likely to adopt low-carbon lifestyles, reducing unnecessary energy consumption and carbon footprint [71]. Environmental ideology also influences household consumption choices, indirectly affecting carbon emissions [72]. Households with strong environmental awareness prioritize green energy products and services, such as high-performance housing and energy-efficient appliances [62; 73]. While the positive impact of environmental awareness on HErC is widely acknowledged, studies indicate that its effectiveness in promoting household energy conservation remains limited [74]. A quantitative model developed by [PERSON] et al. [35] also shows significant differences in environmental awareness levels among urban residents, indicating that overall awareness still needs to be improved. Research suggests that behavioral interventions, such as social campaigns, personalized energy feedback, and default green options, can significantly enhance the effectiveness of environmental awareness in driving behavioral change [75; 76].The households provided with real-time energy consumption feedback via smart meters are more likely to adjust their usage patterns to reduce waste [77]. Similarly, default enrollment in green energy programs has been shown to increase participation rates without requiring active decision-making by consumers [78]. These approaches help bridge the gap between environmental awareness and tangible energy-saving behaviors. Positive behavioral attitudes can significantly drive the adoption of energy-saving and emission-reduction measures [38]. Establishing subjective norms to guide household intentions and behaviors, along with modulating perceived behavioral control [79], can effectively enhance emission reduction potential [59]. Moreover, behavioral attitudes are a core driver of policy effectiveness and play a crucial role in policy implementation [69; 80]. Itis important to note that these attitudes vary significantly among households with different economic status [38] and energy consumption levels [60]. To reinforce positive behavioral attitudes, education, and outreach, economic and policy incentives are essential. Financial incentives such as subsidies for energy-efficient appliances, tax deductions for renewable energy installations, and time-of-use electricity pricing have been proven effective in motivating households to adopt energy-efficient behaviors [81]. These mechanisms reduce financial barriers associated with clean energy adoption, making sustainable choices more economically viable for consumers. Additionally, reward-based programs that provide discounts or rebates for reduced energy consumption can further encourage households to shift toward more sustainable energy behaviors [82]. Social norms indirectly regulate and guide household energy consumption by shaping the social environment and promoting low-carbon values. As value-oriented factors, social norms influence residents' beliefs and habits, thereby altering HErC [35]. In addition, as channels for information dissemination, social norms enhance awareness of high-efficiency appliances, encouraging their adoption and effectively reducing HErC [53]. Moreover, social norms exert a group effect, as individuals tend to conform to the behaviors of those around them, which further motivates energy-saving and emission-reduction actions [65,83].