Energy-saving Behavior Research Articles

Who’s Active Actor? The Analysis of Moderating Impact of Opportunity and Cost on Personal Energy Saving Behavior and Public Policy Participation

Who’s Active Actor? The Analysis of Moderating Impact of Opportunity and Cost on Personal Energy Saving Behavior and Public Policy Participation

A mixed-method approach to study the impacts of energy micro-generation combined with appliance-level feedback on everyday practices

Energy feedback is recognized in energy literature as vital for altering and curbing energy usage. However, recent studies highlight the limitation of energy feedback, questioning its real capacity to promote energy-saving behaviours. Meanwhile, micro-generation, such as photovoltaic panels (PVs), is deemed more effective in reshaping daily practices by encouraging time-shifting of activities, as a way to reduce the load of energy consumed in the grid, while increasing the one from renewable resources. This study explores the impacts of appliance-level consumption feedback combined with micro-generation on everyday practices; it adopts a practice theoretical perspective, viewing households as practitioners rather than mere rational agents. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected between 2022 and 2023 in households with PVs on two islands located off the west coast of Ireland. Smart plugs were installed and connected to different home appliances to collect energy data and provide feedback on their energy usage through a webapp. Our analysis focuses on pre- and post- plugs’ installation and feedback delivery periods, to assess households’ responses both in relation to their practices and to PV usage. While appliance-level feedback showed potential in enhancing PV use and practice changes, heightened awareness does not guarantee change, and households’ responses to feedback depend on various influencing factors deeply embedded in everyday practices – including the (non) negotiability of practices, app design, household dynamics and previous experience with the PV system. Our findings suggest opportunities for energy research to develop more tailored strategies for cutting energy consumption, taking into consideration people’s practices.

Energy-saving Behavior and Households’ Practices in Prevention of Climate Change

The relevance of the problem of energy-saving behavior and the negative contribution of households to climate change is dictated by the need to reduce the burden on the environment. Based on a meta-analysis of scientific publications, an overview of modern behavioral approaches in this area is provided. Results of a survey of experts in the energy sector are presented. The conclusion is that the energy saving strategy is being implemented due to savings, with increasing dynamics of involvement, and the main barriers in this case are the technical limitations of households and economic investments in energy-efficient equipment. Waste management in households is associated with increased demands of citizens for comfortable infrastructure and the reluctance to create additional time costs. The same can be said about the use of personal transport, here the impediments are the desire to maintain mobility and save time. Key energy-saving strategies include reducing resource use, avoiding unsustainable practices and increasing environmental awareness. Institutional barriers to energy-saving behavior are identified: household infrastructure, which does not allow energy efficiency, lack of environmental culture and insufficient interaction between the authorities and the population. Knowledge about environmental problems and understanding the contribution of anthropogenic influence on climate change do not always guarantee the implementation of pro-environmental energy-saving practices. In-depth work to raise knowledge of environmental problems, introduce incentives, spread values and strengthen motivation is necessary.

Encouraging Residents to Save Energy by Using Smart Transportation: Incorporating the Propensity to Save Energy into the UTAUT Model

The rapid urbanization and technological advancements of the recent decades have increased the need for efficient and sustainable transportation solutions. This study examines the acceptance of smart transportation systems (STSs) among residents in Polish cities and explores the impact of these systems on energy-saving behaviors. Using the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model, which includes the propensity to save energy, this research seeks to understand the determinants of STS adoption. The primary research was conducted using Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI). The sample was controlled for gender and place of residence. A sample of 471 individuals meeting the criteria of living in a city with over 200,000 residents and using smart transportation solutions in Poland were selected from the research panel. SmartPLS 4 software was used to analyze the collected data. The findings reveal that the propensity to save energy significantly influences perceived usefulness, ease of use, social influence, and hedonic motivation toward STSs. Perceived usefulness and ease of use were found to be strong predictors of the intention to use STSs, while perceived costs had a negative impact on it. This study also identified the moderating role of personal innovativeness in mitigating cost concerns. These insights underscore the importance of emphasizing energy conservation benefits and user-friendly features in promoting the use of STSs. This study concludes that aligning technological innovations with user motivations for energy conservation can enhance the adoption of sustainable transportation solutions, contributing to smarter and more sustainable urban environments.

Regulatory impact of informality on gasoline consumption efficiency in Africa: A proposed two-part complementary hypothesis test

This study provides new evidence for the regulatory impact of informality on gasoline efficiency in Africa. I propose a Two-Part Complementary Hypothesis (hereafter referred to as the TPCH test), advocating a differential approach to promoting gasoline efficiency: (1) an inverted U-shaped relationship between informality and gasoline inefficiency, and (2) a U-shaped relationship between government regulation and informality, with a significant level effect. The findings indicate an inverted U-shaped effect of informality on gasoline efficiency and a level-negative effect of regulation on informality. These results suggest a differential strategy for enhancing gasoline efficiency. Government regulation is more effective in economies at the pre-saturation stage (characterized by normal growth levels of informality) but proves ineffective in economies at the post-saturation stage (characterized by abnormal growth levels of informality), where energy-saving behaviors may be self-motivated. This is corroborated by the inefficiency equation, where indicators of good governance, such as the rule of law, control of corruption, and regulatory quality, are statistically significant in advancing energy efficiency goals. Gasoline efficiency performance varies across countries, with the higher performers also being the continent's most economically advanced. However, these estimates risk downward bias if outliers or unobserved/observed heterogeneity are not considered.

The effects of green technology and globalization on energy demand in emerging economies

Preserving energy security and promoting sustainable development in the face of globalization constitute essential challenges. Hence, this study focuses on how green technology innovation (GRTI) and globalization (GLOB) influence renewable (RE) and non-renewable (NRE) energy demand, employing panel data from 15 emerging nations from 1990 to 2023. The study discloses major insights employing several panel data approaches to tackle cross-sectional dependency, slope heterogeneity, and structural breaks in cointegration. The results indicate that a 1% change in GRTI leads to a 0.13% rise in REN at a 1% significance level, whereas its impact on NRE is negligible, reducing it by 0.01% in the long run. Conversely, a 1% increase in GLOB leads to an insignificant 2.62% rise in REN and a significant 1.02% increase in NRE at the 5% significance level. Besides, in terms of aggregate energy consumption, GRTI has an unfavorable impact, whereas GLOB holds a positive impact. Notably, the interaction between regulatory quality (REQ) and IVA implies a substantial fall, although the interaction between GLOB and REQ remains promising for aggregate energy demand. Finally, the COVID-19 epidemic markedly enhanced environmental awareness and energy-saving behaviors beyond the explanatory variables. Policies should encourage green technology innovation and prudent globalization to conserve energy demand.

Promoting carbon neutrality: Indian tourists’ intentions to adopt energy-saving behaviours

ABSTRACT Tourism in India contributes to the world's fourth-largest carbon footprint due to its escalating population and rising income levels, but its emissions per person are lower than those of other developed world economies. As one of the largest emerging economies, India's pledge to transition to Net Zero emissions to become Carbon Neutral in COP26 is a great leap forward in achieving Sustainable goals. This study provides an empirical investigation of Indian Tourists’ Intention to adopt Energy-Saving Behaviours (IESB) to promote Carbon Neutrality while travelling by constructing an integrated model incorporating the Norm Activation Model (NAM) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) with Environmental Value (EV) and Climate Change Awareness (CA). Data from 456 tourists were gathered online and offline from March 9 to April 25, 2023. The analysis utilised Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with AMOS and SPSS, testing eight hypotheses statistically. The findings are instrumental for the new climate change goals, policymakers, the tourism sector and various related businesses and hotels for ensuring sustainable practices. This is one of the first studies empirically investigating ESB and Carbon neutrality in one of the largest growing economies by extending the NAM and TPB through the realm of travel and tourism.

Can altruistic factors motivate residents’ energy-saving behavior? An application of stimulus-organism-response theory in China

As China increasingly focuses on sustainable development, understanding and influencing urban residents’ energy-saving behaviors becomes vital for addressing high energy consumption issues. Thus, this research chooses the residents in China as its object, and studies the factors influencing residents’ habitual energy-saving behaviors. We establish a comprehensive theoretical model suitable for this study based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) theory. Utilizing on-the-spot investigations, extensive data collection and model establishment, our research reveals that “altruism” – defined here as actions driven by concern for societal expectations – predominantly motivates daily energy-saving behaviors. In addition, external factors (cost of energy-saving measures) have a significant impact on residents’ energy-saving investment behaviors. Based on our findings, we propose specific policy recommendations focusing on publicity on environmental pollution, the platform for sharing energy conservation experiences and formulation of group-differentiated energy conservation policies. Therefore, this study provides policy implications for motivating residents to take energy-saving actions.

Unveiling the relation between household energy conservation and subjective well-being: Insights from structural equation modeling

Electricity is essential to Pakistan's economy and, it helps to improve the living standards of people. However, the state has long suffered from problems like imbalances in the supply of energy, excessive energy use, and frequent power outages. The present study focused on investigating the relationship between energy-saving behavior, consumption, and subjective well-being in households in urban areas of Punjab, Pakistan. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the research analyzed how different features of electricity use and energy-saving practices affect the quality of life for families in the region. According to research findings, a strong intention to save electricity is also linked to enhanced subjective well-being. When families have an intention toward conserving energy, they feel a more positive change in overall households' subjective well-being while electricity consumption which is measured in terms of electricity bills, negatively affects the household well-being. The current research concludes that some families can experience a financial benefit from lower energy bills, and others would need assistance switching to more environment-friendly energy habits. Governments must adopt price-control mechanisms and electricity subsidies for low-income groups to encourage ethical energy usage and well-being, while also undertaking awareness programs aimed at a varied audience.

Exploring attitudes and behavioral patterns in residential energy consumption: Data-driven by a machine learning approach

The present study focuses on two main objectives: firstly, to clarify the mechanisms by which attitudes impact behavioral changes related to household energy consumption, and secondly, to offer valuable insights to enhance the understanding of residential energy usage through a novel technique called Support Vector Regression (SVR). This method employs several feature space transformations to convert nNar relationships into linear ones. The results highlight the crucial role of psychological factors in determining energy consumption behaviors, demonstrating that cognitive factors significantly influence attitudes and behavioral patterns. The findings show that psychological variables have a major role in determining how people consume energy, with cognitive variables having a particularly large impact on attitudes and behavior patterns. Our findings demonstrate the superior performance of Support Vector Regression (SVR) with radial basis function kernels over traditional predictive models, with a prediction accuracy of 93.7 % for changes in behavior patterns (CHP) and 94.4 % for changes in attitudes (CHA). These results highlight the value of applying cutting-edge machine-learning approaches to create precise models for comprehending and directing energy-saving actions. The policy implications suggest that reducing cognitive barriers can significantly encourage energy-saving behaviors and contribute to a comprehensive approach for energy-efficiency initiatives

Impact of artificial intelligence technology applications on corporate energy consumption intensity

Artificial intelligence (AI), as a new technology, not only revolutionizes economic development, but also provides an opportunity for environment governance. Extant studies primarily explore the environmental performance of AI from a macro perspective, while evidence on how AI technology applications affect firms’ energy-saving behavior is scarce. Employing Python technology to recognize AI-related keywords in the annual reports of listed enterprises and adopting data on corporate energy consumption from 2011 to 2020, we explore the impact of AI on corporate energy consumption intensity (CECI) and its mechanisms. We observe that AI technology applications reduce CECI. After a range of robustness tests, the conclusions are still solid. The mechanism analysis reveals that AI cuts CECI through spurring firm green innovation, stimulating firms to introduce new equipment, and reducing firms’ internal management costs. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that this negative impact is more prominent for SOEs and private enterprises’ energy intensity; we also find that this effect is more pronounced for high-tech industry enterprises and high-polluting enterprises. Our findings provide micro evidence for policymakers to reduce corporate energy intensity and realize energy conservation and emission abatement targets.

Examining the Role of Organizational Culture on Citizenship Behavior: The Mediating Effects of Environmental Knowledge and Attitude Toward Energy Savings

Workplace energy conservation is vital for sustainability, as it reduces environmental harm, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and conserves natural resources. Such procedures lead to significant financial savings, adherence to environmental standards, enhanced corporate social responsibility, and improved organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). This study investigated the impact of organizational culture (OCULT) on OCB, with environmental knowledge (EK) and attitude toward energy savings (ATES) as mediating factors. Components of the theories of planned behavior and value-belief-norm were evaluated through a structural equation model, showing that OCULT influences OCB through EK and ATES, suggesting OCULT’s direct and indirect effects on OCB. The degree to which EK and ATES mediate these effects varies, emphasizing the importance of a strong OCULT in fostering an environmentally conscious workplace. Specifically, the findings reveal that OCULT is responsible for positively impacting ATES and EK, with path coefficients of 0.587 and 0.661, respectively. OCB is positively influenced by it (coefficient of 0.228). The research indicates that knowledge is vital in improving organizational behaviors, with a significant correlation between EK and OCB (coefficient of 0.675). Mediation analysis indicates that EK mediates the relationship between OCULT and OCB (standardized estimate of 0.344), and that ATES and EK together can enhance OCB (standardized estimate of 0.078), demonstrating a robust and meaningful causal effect mediating this link. This outcome is the product of the mutually beneficial interaction among various variables. This study highlights the importance of integrating cultural considerations into knowledge management to foster a more engaged and proactive workforce, which will enhance organizational performance. As a practical implication, managers should promote energy-saving behaviors and nurture a supportive OCULT to enhance OCB. Incorporating sustainability into core organizational strategies will result in a dedicated workforce actively participating in OCB and energy-saving initiatives.

Research on the energy saving behaviors of university students based on TPB in a hot summer–cold winter area in China

Energy saving in higher education institutions holds significant importance in the establishment of environmentally friendly and low-carbon societies, with the energy-saving behaviors of university students playing a pivotal role in the development of sustainable campuses. However, there is a clear need for customized strategies to encourage energy-saving habits among university students in areas of China with extreme weather conditions, such as hot summers and cold winters. This study offers a thorough examination of the literature regarding energy-saving behaviors among college students and presents a new theoretical framework based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A survey questionnaire is conducted at universities in regions with hot summers and cold winters across China, with the goal of identifying the main factors that influence students' intentions and actions regarding campus energy conservation. From July to August 2022, we collected 512 survey responses from different university campuses in China's hot summer-cold winter weather zone. The survey asked about subjective norms, understanding of energy conservation, and the importance of saving energy. Utilizing the Structural Equation Model (SEM), we examined how influencing factors are associated with energy conservation behaviors. Our findings indicate that (1) both the significance of energy conservation and subjective norms significantly drive energy-saving actions; (2) distinct factors impact different forms of energy-saving practices; and (3) the inclination to save energy partially mediates the relationship between comfort choices and the significance of energy conservation. This study presents a validated behavioral model tailored for regions experiencing hot summers and cold winters, offering valuable insights for college administrators in managing energy usage while also serving as a theoretical reference for establishing environmentally sustainable campuses.

Promoting Eco-Friendly Behavior in University Activity-Based Workspaces Through Eco-Feedback

Eco-feedback has been demonstrated as an effective strategy to promote energy-saving behavior among occupants in buildings by providing real-time or historical information on energy consumption and environmental impacts. However, the application of eco-feedback in academic buildings for space choices is limited. In this study, we explored the impact of providing eco-feedback on occupants’ space choices in university Activity-Based Workspaces (ABW), where individuals select their workspaces using an online booking system. We designed two user interfaces: one baseline interface with no eco-feedback, and also an intervention interface that included eco-feedback. A within-subject user interface evaluation study was conducted, and the results suggest that eco-feedback significantly motivates occupants to select highly eco-friendly spaces ( p-value < .05). Consequently, providing eco-feedback in university ABW environments can encourage more eco-friendly and sustainable decision making and has the potential to reduce the contribution of buildings in energy-related carbon emissions.

Occupants’ willingness to reduce in-room energy consumption − a discrete choice experiment (DCE) approach with occupants in a student apartment

This study pioneers a comprehensive methodology to quantify occupants’ willingness to reduce energy consumption behaviors, specifically focusing on student occupants within a student apartment under an all-inclusive payment rental scheme. Employing a dual-component approach, the study combines self-indicated energy consumption behavior attributes with the financial rebate occupants are willing to accept, shedding light on the intricate factors influencing their decisions regarding energy consumption. The Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) serves as a novel tool to identify and measure the financial value, conceptualized as Willingness-to-Accept (WTA), for specific energy-saving behaviors, contributing to a nuanced understanding of the economic valuation placed on sustainable practices. A pre-survey and a DCE-based survey were conducted within the student apartment, the former one comprehending general energy consumption behaviour patterns and rebate preferences, and the latter examining the impact of financial incentives on behavioral changes, providing a comprehensive and longitudinal perspective. The findings highlight the paramount influence of factors such as “air conditioning setpoint” on occupants’ decisions followed by “lighting time” and “shower time”, emphasizing the delicate balance between occupant comfort, financial considerations, and environmental consciousness. Despite limitations related to the specificity of the study context and potential discrepancies between hypothetical and real-world behavior, this research offers practical implications for designing effective energy-saving interventions tailored to the unique characteristics of student occupants. Policymakers and stakeholders can leverage these insights to inform incentive structures, energy conservation initiatives, or pricing strategies that align with consumer preferences, ultimately encouraging sustainable energy practices in residential settings.

Psychological Motivation Analysis of Farmers' Collective Energy-saving Behavior and Influence of Intervention Effect

The poor thermal performance of rural buildings in northern China and the serious pollution caused by loose coal combustion are practical problems that need to be solved urgently. In order to solve the two problems, this paper analyzed the current situation of the envelope structure of rural houses in the north of our country and the commonly used heating forms of farmers. It was found that the envelope structure of most rural houses did not take heat preservation measures and needed to be transformed to save energy. The commonly used heating systems for farmers are coal furnaces, hanging kang, earth heating, etc., and the wealthier rural areas use biogas or straw gasification for central heating, but there are still various problems to be improved in these systems. In order to improve the thermal performance of the farmers' building structure, the thermal performance measurement and energy-saving transformation of the enclosure structure of a typical farmer in Xiaoyi, Shanxi Province were carried out. Before the energy-saving transformation, Energy Plus software simulation analysis shows that the typical farmer can save 60% of the heating energy consumption after the energy-saving transformation. Before and after the energy-saving transformation, the actual measurement results show that the heat transfer coefficient of the wall, window and roof decreased by 72.7%, 61.59% and 64.99% respectively from 2.3 times, 1.43 times and 2.11 times the national requirement limit. The performance of the envelope structure after the energy-saving transformation can meet the national requirements. The actual statistics show that the biomass fuel consumption per unit temperature difference before and after the transformation is saved by 66.74%, which indicates that the energy-saving transformation has achieved good results, and shows the accuracy of the Energy Plus model. The psychological intervention of energy-saving transformation proposed in this study helps to improve people's awareness of energy-saving, reduces anxiety and fear, and has a very good effect on the psychological intervention effect.

Green human resource management, energy saving behavior and environmental performance: a systematic literature review

Purpose This study aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the existing literature on green human resource management (GHRM) and its correlation with environmental performance (EP) and energy saving behavior (ESB) by using the PRISMA methodology. Design/methodology/approach A thorough examination was undertaken involving a total of 25 articles which included a diverse range of years and geographic areas. Findings The findings suggest a growing emphasis on the intersection of GHRM, EP and ESB, supported by a substantial increase in research in recent times. The literature in question was mostly contributed by Malaysia, Pakistan, Canada and Thailand. Majority of research endeavors were carried out within the context of manufacturing companies. The studies under scrutiny mostly used quantitative research methodologies and often applied the resource-based view (RBV) and theory of planned behavior (TPB) frameworks to investigate the relationships between GHRM, ESB and EP. In addition, structural equation modeling (SEM) has garnered significant attention as a commonly used analytical methodology. This analysis emphasizes the growing importance of GHRM strategies such as green recruiting, green performance management and green remuneration, in fostering sustainable organizational results. Originality/value This work offers significant contributions to the existing body of research in this particular sector; shedding light on its present condition and pinpointing prospective avenues for future inquiries.

What’s the difference between factors influencing household waste management and energy-saving behavior? A meta-analysis

PurposeThis study aims to identify the key factors that influence household pro-environmental behaviors (HPEBs) and explore the differences caused by the same influencing factors between household waste management behavior (HWM) and household energy-saving behavior (HES).Design/methodology/approachA meta-analysis was conducted on 90 articles about HPEBs published between 2009 and 2023 to find the key factors. HPEBs were further categorized into HWM and HES to investigate the difference influenced by the above factors on two behaviors. The correlation coefficient was used as the unified effect size, and the random-effect model was adopted to conduct both main effect and moderating effect tests.FindingsThe results showed that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control all positively influenced intention and HPEBs, but their effects were stronger on intention than on HPEBs. Intention was found to be the strongest predictor of HPEBs. Subjective norms were found to have a more positive effect on HES compared to HWM, while habits had a more positive effect on HWM. Furthermore, household size was negatively correlated with HWM but positively correlated with HES.Originality/valueThe same variables have different influences on HWM and HES. These results can help develop targeted incentives to increase the adoption of HPEBs, ultimately reducing household energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to the mitigation of global warming.

Sustainable sojourns: Fostering sustainable hospitality practices to meet UN-SDGs.

This research discusses the significance of environmental transformational leadership (ENTL) in the creation of energy-saving sustainable behaviors (EESB) among employees in the tourism and hospitality sector of China. The method is consequently a quantitative analysis, where the mediating effect of green intrinsic motivation (GNIM) and green passion (GRP), and the moderating role of green altruism (GNA) are examined to understand their influence on the relationship between ENTL and EESB. The data were gathered from multiple hotels in major Chinese cities, with the use of a structured questionnaire. The study shows that ENTL has significant effect on EESB, with GNIM and GRP serving as mediating factors. In addition, GNA was shown to have been able to boost the effects that ENTL has on these mediators. The findings are indicative of the vital role of leadership in promoting responsible practices within the tourism and hospitality sector, and towards the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This research not only fills the gaps in the existing literature that primarily focuses on developed economies but also provides policy makers and business leaders with practical solutions for enhancing the sustainability in emerging economies.

Modern developments and analysis of household electricity utilization by applying smart meter and its findings

The efficient utilization of household electricity is pivotal in the context of rising energy demands and environmental concerns. This study addresses the critical issue of electricity wastage in Chinese households by applying advanced smart meter technology. Aiming to analyze and optimize electricity consumption patterns, the research utilizes the Smart Energy Utilization Model (SEUM) over a period from January 2020 to December 2022, incorporating methodologies such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Least Squares Support Vector Regression (LS-SVR), and deep learning. The findings reveal that households equipped with smart meters demonstrated a 15 % reduction in overall energy consumption, a 10 % decrease in peak-hour usage, and a notable improvement in energy-saving behaviors among users. Additionally, the integration of smart meters facilitated better load management and contributed to reducing the carbon footprint. The study also found that smart meter data analytics helped in identifying and rectifying inefficient appliances, resulting in a 12 % reduction in energy waste. Moreover, the increased awareness and real-time feedback provided by smart meters led to a 20 % increase in user engagement with energy-saving initiatives. These findings underscore the potential of smart meter technology, enhanced by advanced analytical methods, to enhance energy efficiency and support sustainable development policies.