Energy Usage Behavior Research Articles

Challenges to achieving a successful transition to a low carbon economy in South Africa: examples from poor urban communities

South Africa faces several development challenges including those linked to climate change. Energy usage in South Africa, for example, is already constrained because of a range of development challenges (the dependence on cheap coal as a heating source; energy availability; access; affordability of alternative energy sources; and a range of health impacts, including air pollution). Notwithstanding calls for a transition to a low carbon economy, there have been few, recent assessments in South Africa of the costs associated with such a transition, particularly the social and economic costs for the poor who use energy in a variety of ways. In this paper we focus on trying to unravel some of the complex energy-use behaviour including understanding what drives consumers in resource-poor areas to choose and use persistently risky energy options. Analysis of qualitative data in two township areas, Doornkop and Kwaguqa, shows that township households, whether electrified or not, continue to burn coal. In both study areas, an estimated 80% of electrified households burn coal for space heating and cooking and also make use of multiple fuel sources for a range of activities. Although the major obstacles preventing people from discontinuing domestic coal combustion are poverty, the ready availability and social acceptability of coal together with other social customs cannot be underrated. This paper therefore highlights some of the persistent challenges associated with sustainable energy transitions in South Africa including implications for improved mitigation and adaptation for the energy sector in wider climate change efforts.

Investigation of Energy Performance and Usage Behavior of Domestic Refrigerator Freezer Using Clustering and Segmentation

This study carried out the field survey from house to house to garner the information of consumer behavior. In this study the energy consumption 104 refrigerators have been monitored as well. The energy consumption of 104 refrigerators is clustered and segmented to classify the refrigerators of same characteristic in the same group. The capacity of the refrigerator, frequency of door opening and position of refrigerator either near heat source or away from the heat source is considered for clustering and segmentation analysis. The clustering and segmentation in this survey reveal the effect of these factors on the energy performance of the refrigerator.

Energy consumption in UK households: Impact of domestic electrical appliances

The social-psychological aspects of energy use in UK households have been reviewed. A major survey, which focused on identifying environmental attitudes and beliefs, energy-use behaviour, ownership levels for certain appliances and their utilisation patterns, was undertaken among householders resident in the south-east of England. The results indicate that members of the general public are (i) interested in receiving information concerning household energy use and the associated environmental impact, and (ii) willing to modify their behaviour in order to reduce household energy consumption and environmental damage. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide end-users with accurate energy-consumption and environmental-impact information, persuasively presented, to stimulate energy-rational and environmentally sustainable behaviour. For each major domestic electrical appliance, the survey data permit estimates of the variations in energy consumption per household and of the aggregate annual consumption nationally.

Editorial

The social-psychological aspects of energy use in UK households have been reviewed. A major survey, which focused on identifying environmental attitudes and beliefs, energy-use behaviour, ownership levels for certain appliances and their utilisation patterns, was undertaken among householders resident in the south-east of England. The results indicate that members of the general public are (i) interested in receiving information concerning household energy use and the associated environmental impact, and (ii) willing to modify their behaviour in order to reduce household energy consumption and environmental damage. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide end-users with accurate energy-consumption and environmental-impact information, persuasively presented, to stimulate energy-rational and environmentally sustainable behaviour. For each major domestic electrical appliance, the survey data permit estimates of the variations in energy consumption per household and of the aggregate annual consumption nationally.

A Method for the Nonstatistical Assessment of Behaviorally-Based Policy Models

Advanced computer-technology, sophisticated econometric computer-software, and the increasing availability of disaggregated data have all facilitated the development and use, for planning and policy analysis, of statistically-estimated mathematical models of human behavior. In this paper the author presents a method to judge subjectively the quality of these models and illustrates how the results of the method can be used, with statistical measures of the quality of a model, as indicators of the predictive abilities of the model. Ideas are drawn from the literature on artificial intelligence, and the concern is how to represent and manipulate subjective judgments. Five models which are related to household energy-use behavior are subjectively assessed, statistically estimated, and used to predict future behavior. In four of the five cases, the subjective assessments, in combination with the statistical measures, correctly indicate the quality of the predictive accuracy of a model.

A method for self-recording household energy-use behavior

In this paper, the authors present a method for collecting data on household energy-use behavior. Open-ended interviewing is supplemented by the use of a self-recording system to compensate for a persistent problem in data-gathering on behavior, namely, the gap between what people say they do in interviews and what they actually do. The authors developed and field-tested a self- recording diary which is simple to both use and analyze. Results of that field test are discussed, together with an analysis of who in the household used (or controlled) each of the energy systems in the house. We also compare self-recorded data with interview data to point to differences between reported and recorded behavior. We believe that both the method and the insights into the separation of energy tasks within the household should be of paramount interest to energy planners.