Energy consumption and savings: A survey-based study of Finnish households

Abstract

Energy has moved to the forefront in societal and economic development. Our homes and real estate are more and more dependent on electricity. In order to reach the full potential for new consumer-oriented market mechanisms and in order to fulfil climate policy targets we need more information on consumers’ behaviour and attitudes towards energy. This paper uses a survey to examine the attitudes and behaviour of households' energy-related issues. The analytical framework used is based on ordered choice and probability models. The objective is to identify households' characteristics that affect energy consumption and savings, attitudes towards climate change and conservation of natural resources, and the importance of municipal energy-related issues. According to the results, the importance of reduction in electricity consumption is positively correlated with attitudes towards mitigation of climate change and importance of renewable energy. Heating system of residence, income, and gender affect attitude and behaviour. Interestingly, the higher the income the less important is electricity reduction. Women have changed their behaviour in order to reduce electricity consumption more than men. Utilising this information it is possible for society to build efficient mechanisms, such as real-time pricing, through which we can affect consumers' energy-related behaviour and give incentives for energy savings and efficiency. One interesting result is also that over 80% of the respondents view municipalities' energy efficiency as very important.