Factors influencing household energy conservation behavior.

• Other Authors: Tsang, Kai Ho.
• Format: Others
• Language: English; Chinese; Chinese
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Energy conservation > Social aspects; Energy conservation > Social aspects > China > Hong Kong; Energy consumption > Social aspects; Energy consumption > Social aspects > China > Hong Kong; Sustainability; Sustainability > China > Hong Kong
• Online Access: http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b5549102; http://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/en/item/cuhk-328270

多年來，各國的科學家致力提升能源效益以減少能源消耗。當中，以了解能源使用行為對達致可持續能源消耗最為關鍵。為此，本論文將採用跨學科的方法，利用心理學的理論制定研究框架及問卷設計，目的為調查影響市民進行家居節約能源行為的因素。 === 本研究採用詳細設計的問卷收集受訪者的環境態度、行為動機、自我報告行為、環境知識水平、情景因素及心理因素。是次調查共採訪七百一十五位年齡為十五歲或以上的香港市民。研究結果顯示，香港市民擁有高度的環境態度及中等的環境知識水平，當中尤對本地的環境知識特別了解。 === 在影響節能行為的因素方面，本研究的結果與國外的相關研究存有顯著差別。當中社會經濟因素並不能解釋本地的家居節能行為；相反，心理因素，包括內在刺激、願意犧牲度、環境污染嚴重意識、責任意識及自我勝任感卻為解釋家居節能行為的重要因素。 === 根據本研究的觀察，單純地向市民灌輸環境知識並不能鼓勵其進行可持續生活。故此，本研究將向保護環境從業者就設計環境教育運動及制訂環境政策時提出可行的改善方法。最後，本文亦就本研究的限制作出討論，並就其他相關研究提出改善及建議。 === Reducing energy usage by raising energy efficiency has been the focus of scientists worldwide. Understanding energy consumption behaviors is crucial to achieving sustainable energy usage reduction. This study aims at exploring the barriers that hinder people from adopting energy conservation behaviors at home that could lead to efficient energy consumption. To achieve this, an inter-disciplinary approach is adopted integrating psychological theories in the research framework and questionnaire design. === The study employed a structured questionnaire in an attempt to understand environmental values, behavioral intention, self-reported behaviors, environmental knowledge, situational variables as well as psychological determinants, from respondents. 715 respondents aged 15 and above participated in the survey in Hong Kong. Results show that in general, Hong Kong citizens have high environmental awareness and moderate level of environmental knowledge and that they understand local environmental issues to be of great interest. Thus, regarding the barriers of behaviors, the findings suggest dissimilar results with their counterparts in the western countries. It shows that socio-economic factors are not decisive in performing energy conservation behaviors at home, while psychological factors, namely intrinsic motivation, willingness to sacrifice, perceived seriousness of environmental problems, perceived responsibility and self-efficacy, could significantly explain human behaviors. === Observed from this survey, equipping the public with environmental knowledge is no longer practical in achieving sustainability. Recommendations for environmental practitioners are demonstrated in this study. Besides, the limitations of this research and suggestions on further similar studies are discussed. === Detailed summary in vernacular field only. === Detailed summary in vernacular field only. === Detailed summary in vernacular field only. === Detailed summary in vernacular field only. === Tsang, Kai Ho. === Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. === Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-127). === Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. === Abstracts also in Chinese; appendix E in Chinese. === Abstract --- p.i === 論文摘要 --- p.iii === Acknowledgements --- p.iv === Table of Contents --- p.v === List of Tables --- p.ix === List of Figures --- p.xi === Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 === Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 === Chapter 1.2 --- Background --- p.2 === Chapter 1.3 --- Research objectives --- p.3 === Chapter 1.4 --- Significance --- p.4 === Chapter 1.5 --- Research framework --- p.5 === Chapter 1.6 --- Structure of the thesis --- p.5 === Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.7 === Chapter 2.1 --- Pro-environmental behaviors --- p.7 === Chapter 2.2 --- Energy conservation behavior --- p.8 === Chapter 2.3 --- Environmental knowledge and behavior --- p.9 === Chapter 2.4 --- Environmental values and behavior --- p.11 === Chapter 2.5 --- Situational variables --- p.13 === Chapter 2.5.1 --- Socio-demographics --- p.13 === Chapter 2.5.1.1 --- Age --- p.13 === Chapter 2.5.1.2 --- Gender --- p.15 === Chapter 2.5.1.3 --- Education --- p.17 === Chapter 2.5.1.4 --- Income --- p.19 === Chapter 2.5.1.5 --- Household size --- p.20 === Chapter 2.5.1.6 --- Other home characteristics --- p.22 === Chapter 2.5.2 --- Psychological variables --- p.24 === Chapter 2.5.2.1 --- Intrinsic motivation --- p.24 === Chapter 2.5.2.2 --- Subjective norm/ Social pressure --- p.26 === Chapter 2.5.2.3 --- Efficacy --- p.28 === Chapter 2.5.2.4 --- Perceived seriousness of environmental problems --- p.31 === Chapter 2.5.2.5 --- Perceived responsibility --- p.33 === Chapter 2.6 --- Conceptualizing energy conservation behavior --- p.36 === Chapter 2.6.1 --- The Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) --- p.36 === Chapter 2.6.2 --- Framework of study --- p.38 === Chapter 2.7 --- Research gap --- p.41 === Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- METHODOLOGY --- p.43 === Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.43 === Chapter 3.2 --- Study area --- p.43 === Chapter 3.3 --- Study instrument --- p.44 === Chapter 3.3.1 --- Questionnaire design --- p.45 === Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Section 1 - Environmental values --- p.45 === Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Section 2 - Behavioral intention scale --- p.48 === Chapter 3.3.1.3 --- Section 3 - Behavioral frequency scale --- p.48 === Chapter 3.3.1.4 --- Section 4 - Environmental knowledge (general and concrete) --- p.49 === Chapter 3.3.1.5 --- Section 5 Psychological variables --- p.52 === Chapter 3.3.1.6 --- Socio-demographics --- p.55 === Chapter 3.4 --- Questionnaire formation --- p.55 === Chapter 3.4.1 --- First pilot study --- p.55 === Chapter 3.4.2 --- Second pilot study --- p.56 === Chapter 3.4.3 --- Final questionnaire --- p.56 === Chapter 3.5 --- Data collection --- p.57 === Chapter 3.6 --- Analytical methods --- p.57 === Chapter 3.6.1 --- Quantitative methods --- p.58 === Chapter 3.6.1.1 --- Descriptive and bivariate statistics --- p.58 === Chapter 3.6.1.2 --- Multivariate statistics --- p.60 === Chapter 3.7 --- Conclusion --- p.62 === Chapter CHPATER FOUR --- UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES, KNOWLEDGE, BEHAVIORAL INTENTION, BEHAVIOR AND DETERMINANTS --- p.63 === Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.63 === Chapter 4.2 --- Sample profile --- p.63 === Chapter 4.3 --- Environmental values --- p.65 === Chapter 4.3.1 --- Dimensionality of New Ecological Paradigm --- p.65 === Chapter 4.3.2 --- Conclusion --- p.68 === Chapter 4.4 --- Behavioral intentional and self-reported behavior --- p.69 === Chapter 4.4.1 --- Comparison of behavioral intention and self-reported behavior --- p.69 === Chapter 4.4.2 --- Construction of behavioral intention measurement scale --- p.73 === Chapter 4.4.3 --- Construction of behavior measurement scale --- p.74 === Chapter 4.4.4 --- Conclusion --- p.76 === Chapter 4.5 --- Environmental knowledge --- p.77 === Chapter 4.5.1 --- General environmental knowledge --- p.77 === Chapter 4.5.2 --- Concrete environmental knowledge --- p.79 === Chapter 4.5.3 --- Conclusion --- p.80 === Chapter 4.6 --- Extraction of psychological variables --- p.81 === Chapter 4.6.1 --- First factor - Intrinsic motivation --- p.86 === Chapter 4.6.2 --- Second factor - Willingness to sacrifice --- p.86 === Chapter 4.6.3 --- Third factor - Perceived seriousness --- p.87 === Chapter 4.6.4 --- Forth factor - Responsibility --- p.87 === Chapter 4.6.5 --- Fifth factor - Self Efficacy --- p.88 === Chapter 4.6.6 --- Conclusion --- p.88 === Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- DETERMINANTS OF HOUSEHOLD ENERGY CONSERVATION BEHAVIOR --- p.89 === Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.89 === Chapter 5.1.1 --- Regression analysis of behavioral intention --- p.90 === Chapter 5.1.2 --- Regression analysis of household energy conservation behavior --- p.92 === Chapter 5.1.3 --- Synthesis of regression analyses --- p.93 === Chapter 5.2 --- Conclusion --- p.94 === Chapter CHAPTER SIX --- DISCUSSION --- p.96 === Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.96 === Chapter 6.2 --- Validity of the model --- p.96 === Chapter 6.3 --- Environmental values and behavior --- p.97 === Chapter 6.4 --- Psychological variables --- p.97 === Chapter 6.4.1 --- Intrinsic motivation --- p.98 === Chapter 6.4.2 --- Responsibility --- p.98 === Chapter 6.4.3 --- Willingness of sacrifice --- p.99 === Chapter 6.4.4 --- Perceived seriousness --- p.100 === Chapter 6.4.5 --- Efficacy --- p.100 === Chapter 6.5 --- Situational variables --- p.102 === Chapter 6.5.1 --- Age --- p.102 === Chapter 6.5.2 --- Education --- p.102 === Chapter 6.5.3 --- Environmental knowledge --- p.103 === Chapter CHAPTER SEVEN --- CONCLUSION --- p.106 === Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.106 === Chapter 7.2 --- Summary of the findings --- p.106 === Chapter 7.3 --- Recommendations for policies and campaigns --- p.107 === Chapter 7.4 --- Limitations of this research --- p.111 === Chapter 7.5 --- Suggestions for further studies --- p.113 === Reference list --- p.116 === Chapter Appendix A --- Questionnaire for first pilot study --- p.128 === Chapter Appendix B --- Preliminary results of the first pilot study --- p.133 === Chapter Appendix C --- Questionnaire for second pilot study --- p.143 === Chapter Appendix D --- Final questionnaire --- p.148 === Chapter Appendix E --- Final questionnaire (Chinese version) --- p.154