Electricity consumption, ethnic origin and religion

Abstract

This paper documents the average electricity consumption of households in neighbourhoods with a substantial minority presence and contrasts it to otherwise similar neighbourhoods, thereby establishing a correlation between consumption and variables such as country-of-birth (“ethnicity”). Controlling for standard socio-economic variables, we find systematic departures from the population mean, however not always in the same direction: some minority groups consume more, others less. The method we use is a non-invasive way to obtain electricity use patterns by cultural groups. We discuss how this may inform public energy use programs and perhaps motivate cultural adaptation of energy efficiency messaging at the local community level.