The addiction is more to do with wanting to belong to the majority (at least as far as the Nordic countries). The spread of satellite dishes, plasma screens, and the like could, I am convinced, be mapped like the spread of influenza. Thus by influencing neighbours you can game the system i.e energy saving has to be seen as a status symbol of some kind. It is already happening in my neck of the woods.

This produces increasing group happiness, whereas shock taxes do the opposite.

You can't be me, I'm taken