Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

Consumer attitudes toward potentially restrictive energy conservation regulations

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/9593tz148

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  • A sample of 893 Oregon individuals from a Western Regional Agricultural Experiment Station Project (W-159 "Consequences of Energy Conservation Policies for Western Region Households") was used to analyze consumer attitudes toward potentially restrictive energy conservation regulations. Belief in the seriousness of the energy problem, a psychological measure of internal control (internality), and eight socio-demographic characteristics were examined in relation to consumer attitudes toward these regulations. Logistic regression was used to determine the probability that a respondent would oppose or favor seven different energy conservation regulations, not believe or believe in the seriousness of the energy problem, and have a low or high degree of internality, and what the related function of eight socio-demographic characteristics were. Log-linear analysis was used to obtain descriptions of the relationships among all the variables included in a high order contingency table. The significant socio-demographic characteristics in the logistic regression analyses varied depending on the regulation, indicating that personal impact or inconvenience determined respondents' attitudes. The regulation with the greatest opposition and the greatest number of significant socio-demographic variables and interactions, was "discourage building homes away from towns and cities to lessen travel by car." Those who did not believe in the seriousness of the energy problem were over 50 years of age, male, had less than a college degree, and opposed mandatory energy conservation regulations related to home thermostat settings. Homeowners opposed the regulation requiring their homes to pass an energy audit. Opposition to regulations appeared to be related only to an individual's perception of the consequences of the regulation, and not to belief in the energy problem or locus of control. Those with low internality scores included females, rural residents, respondents over 50, and those with less than a college degree. Social exchange theory is proposed as an explanation of beliefs, attitudes and practices related to energy conservation. An expert Delphi Panel ranked the energy conservation regulations on degree of restrictiveness. The Kendall Tau Coefficient tested for associations between the Delphi Panel ranking of the regulations and respondents' perceptions of the restrictiveness of the regulations and level of opposition. All associations were low, indicating that policymakers and respondents had different views on energy regulations.
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