Domestic energy use and householders' energy behaviour

Yohanis, Yigzaw G.

doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2011.11.028

Cited by 112 publications

(95 citation statements)

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“…We recognize that behaviours, attitudes and habits in relation to energy consumption in homes are distinct from each other, and variables measured through the questionnaire are mapped according to whether they represent behaviours, attitudes and habits. In general terms, energy behaviour can be described as the actions that residents take when using energy in their households [4]. Attitudes refer to "a psychological tendency that is expressed by evaluating a particular entity with some degree of favor or disfavor" [41, p.1].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, in the UK, in 2007 the average time spent watching television was 3.6 h per day [65]. Building Research Establishment (BRE) [66] and Yohanis [4] found that washing machines were used more frequently than tumble dryers, while the latter were used less in the summer. As with the households in our survey, Yohanis observed that the highest frequency of use for either of these two appliances was ten times per week or more [4].…”

Section: Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Human behaviour is one of the main factors that can influence domestic energy consumption, together with the physical properties of the dwelling, climate, number and demographic profile of occupants, household income, lifestyle, and appliance ownership and use [2][3][4][5]. Indeed, variation in residents' behaviour can cause significant differences in energy consumption between dwellings with otherwise similar characteristics (e.g.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Environmental knowledge, pro-environmental behaviour and energy savings in households: An empirical study

2016

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Energy consumption in households comprises over a quarter of total energy use in the UK [1]. Human behaviour is one of the main factors that can influence domestic energy consumption, together with the physical properties of the dwelling, climate, number and demographic profile of occupants, household income, lifestyle, and appliance ownership and use [2][3][4][5]. Indeed, variation in residents' behaviour can cause significant differences in energy consumption between dwellings with otherwise similar characteristics (e.g. household size, income, and building energy performance) [3,6]. It is therefore important to understand influences upon behaviour in households as these in turn have implications for domestic energy use. In this respect, strategies to stimulate pro-environmental behaviour represent one means of modifying behaviour in households in order to promote energy conservation and reduce environmental impact [7].Pro-environmental behaviour is a form of environmental action that 'consciously seeks to minimize the negative impact of one's actions on the natural and built world ' [8, p.240], and 'only refers to those personal actions that are directly related to environmental improvement ' [9, p.325]. Such environmental actions can be performed individually or collectively, and may be direct or indirect in their approach to mitigating harm to, and improving, the environment [9]. Pro-environmental behaviours can also be influenced by internal factors such as environmental awareness, values and attitudes [10] and external factors such as social norms, interaction with other individuals and financial constraints [11,12].In this study we assess how environmental knowledge influences pro-environmental behaviour in households. We establish and confirm links between knowledge about the environment and energy, actions on Environmental knowledge, pro-environmental behaviour and energy savings in households: An empirical study AbstractIn this paper we evaluate the impact of knowledge about environmental and energy issues on potential pro-environmental behaviour in households, specifically relating to behaviours, attitudes and habits towards energy use. Our results are based on an empirical survey and we find significant correlations which indicate that residents with positive environmental values and greater environmental knowledge are more likely to demonstrate energy behaviours, attitudes and habits which lead to energy saving activities in households. This is further supported through a Principal Component Analysis (PCA), which suggests that energy saving behaviour may also vary according to gender and employment status. Conversely, we find only limited evidence of statistical associations between environmental predisposition and knowledge, and ownership and frequency of use of household appliances. We argue that our results contribute to the significant body of literature supporting the role of knowledge in active engagement with energy issues. This study is timely following closely policy developments in activ...

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental knowledge, pro-environmental behaviour and energy savings in households: An empirical study

2016

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“…People, for the most part, appear largely unaware of how much energy they use and research suggests that they are rarely interested or engaged in the subject (Retallack et al 2007;Whitmarsh et al 2011;Yohanis 2012). Although we know there is a performance gap between predicted to actual use, we know comparatively little about what meaning and significance the presence of retrofit measures have for households.…”

Section: Using and Living With Retrofit Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retrofitting social housing: reflections by tenants on adopting and living with retrofit technology

Brown

Swan

Chahal³

2014

Energy Efficiency

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Retrofit has been described as one of the major engineering challenges of the twenty-first century (Kelly 2009). However, the industry needs to look beyond regarding the problem as restricted to the physical upgrade of properties. Asset managers, engineers and installers work on and in people's homes and, in many cases, are subsequently changing the way householders use their homes to meet their comfort and wider energy needs. Here we consider how the twin issues of adopting and living with retrofit technologies have affected groups of residents in social housing. We discuss issues of trust, social norms, engagement and concern that have shaped the adoption process, as well as investigating the everyday experience of living with new configurations of energy consumption. The findings have relevance not only for the social housing sector but also raise questions as to how to effectively deliver programmes such as the Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation within the UK.

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“…2.3). Moreover, bringing needs into the equation leads, inter alia, to the conclusion that individuals who spend a greater degree of the day at home (such as pensioners or unemployed people) or have specific energy requirements (including disability or the presence of small children) are more likely to suffer from domestic energy deprivation than the rest of the population, as their socio-demographic circumstances mean that such households demand above-average amounts of end-use energy (Buzar, 2007b;Roberts, 2008;Wrapson & DevineWright, 2014;Yohanis, 2012). This situation can transpire irrespective of the affordability of energy prices, or the lack of residential energy efficiency.…”

Section: Energy Vulnerabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Energy Poverty, Vulnerability and Justice

Bouzarovski

2017

Energy Poverty

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This chapter outlines past and current definitional issues at the nexus of energy poverty, energy vulnerability, energy justice and energy transitions. It traces the historical development of scientific understandings centring on these topics, while exploring their interactions and interdependencies. The chapter starts from the multiple definitional controversies surrounding fuel poverty and energy poverty, to then discuss the different ways in which notions of energy vulnerability and energy justice have enriched traditional understandings. The latter has been achieved, in part, thanks to a fuller appreciation of the services and production chains via which energy circulates across territories.

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Domestic energy use and householders' energy behaviour

Cited by 112 publications

References 46 publications

Environmental knowledge, pro-environmental behaviour and energy savings in households: An empirical study

Environmental knowledge, pro-environmental behaviour and energy savings in households: An empirical study

Retrofitting social housing: reflections by tenants on adopting and living with retrofit technology

Understanding Energy Poverty, Vulnerability and Justice

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