Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

Attitudes and behavior toward energy consumption among Oregon residents and their sociodemographic correlates

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/44558h21v

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  • The relationship between attitudes toward energy and conservation behavior was studied in the context of sociodemographic and housing characteristics. Data were obtained by mail survey from a random sample of 1,503 Oregon households (Western Regional Agricultural Experiment Station Project, W-159). The return rate was 55 percent (834). Attitudes toward energy consumption were obtained by factor analyzing twelve Likert-type opinion statements toward energy sources. Three factors accounted for 50 percent of the variance. They were: favor reducing energy consumption, favor conventional energy sources, and favor renewable energy sources. Eight behavioral measures were based on basic structural conservation features, such as wall insulation and double glazed windows, and on additional structural features, like wood stoves, solar heating, etc. Basic and additional features were further divided into features that already existed when respondents moved into their homes (x̅ = 2.3), features added by respondents themselves (x̅ = 2.1), and features respondents planned to add (x̅ = 1.1). In addition, two measures based on no-cost conservation practices were constructed (x̅= 3.2). The analysis of attitudinal and behavioral measures proceeded in three steps, using a multiple regression stepwise procedure. First a favorable attitude toward energy conservation and a favorable attitude towards renewable energy sources were found to be related to independent variables, i.e. perceived seriousness of the energy problem, age, income, and location in the same way. A favorable attitude towards conventional energy sources, however, generally related to the demographic variables in an opposite manner. In the analysis of behavioral measures, attitudes had only a moderate effect on behavior. Basic structural measures were more common in newer homes than in older ones. Respondents who favored renewable energy sources reported more additional energy saving features than those who were less favorable. The adoption of no-cost conservation practices was higher among respondents who favored energy conservation. In the third step actual energy expenditures were used to determine the impact of energy related attitudes and conservation behavior on actual energy expenditures. Attitudes and behavior, although not the most important determinants of energy consumption, had a significant impact on the amount of energy consumed in a household.
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