Abstract
Energy efficiency has been an important topic since the latter part of the last century. This is because adoption of energy efficiency measures has been acknowledged as one of the key methods of addressing the negative impact of climate change. In Zambia, however, the need to adopt energy efficiency measures has not just been driven by the imperative to mitigate the negative effects of climate change but also by a critical shortage of energy. This research looks at households’ energy consumption behavior in low- and high-income areas of Kitwe. Recent studies on the relationship between household energy consumption and behavioral lifestyle have been descriptive, with limited emphasis on the relationships between various variables. In this study, descriptive and inferential statistics have been used to investigate relationships between the two income groups and various energy consumption-related variables such as knowledge about energy reduction measures, energy saving strategies, barriers to the use of energy saving strategies, and the motives for using energy reduction strategies. Methodologically, the study was largely quantitative in nature, with questionnaires administered to a combined total of 56 households. However, key interviews were also conducted that helped us to get a clearer understanding of some of the issues covered in the research. Key findings are that whereas the descriptive statistics show that there are behavioral differences between the two income groups, the inferential statistics show that there is no relationship between income level and the energy efficiency variables. This has been found to be consistent with results from studies done elsewhere. The key lesson is that there is low usage of energy efficiency measures in both low- and high-income areas and that the authorities need to change the way information is disseminated to consumers from the current method of advertising to social diffusion.
Highlights
Energy efficiency has been one of the most dominant topics of our time
One of the key aspects distinguishing this study from others such as Malama et al [23] and Makashini et al [30] is that it uses descriptive and inferential statistics to determine the relationship between the energy consumption and behavioral lifestyle of households from different income categories
Descriptive statistics are distinguished from inferential statistics in that, while the former aim to summarize a sample, the latter use the data to learn more about the population that the sample represents
Summary
Energy efficiency has been one of the most dominant topics of our time. It gathered pace starting in the early 1990s, when the scientific community started actively discussing the link between climate change and the sustainable use of energy resources. The need to conserve energy resources is at variance with the imperative for development. Some researchers have argued that it would be difficult to have any meaningful development without the use of energy resources There is a need, to find the right balance between energy consumption and development. The global community has reached a consensus that the responsibility for sustainable consumption of energy resources lies with every nation. Zambia in particular, need to contribute to this global effort
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
