Residential energy behaviour: does generation matter?
Author
Summary, in English
In this study we tested the relevance of the generational hypothesis, i.e. whether the era in which household members grew up matters when understanding and predicting their behaviour, on a sample of 600 Swedish households. These households participated in a survey where they answered questions about their own energy-related residential energy behaviour. The answers were analysed for differences between age groups, between different attitudes to environmental issues, between income levels and between dwelling types. The results showed that age was as good an indicator as the other parameters. In several areas, older households had a more energy-efficient residential behaviour than younger ones regarding laundry practices, indoor heat regulation and bathing. According to the generational hypothesis, this finding implies higher energy use in the future. The study also shows that there is a broad scope for improving residential energy behaviour in Swedish society by implementing changes in laundry avoiding practices, dishwashing behaviour and indoor temperature regulation.
Department/s
Publishing year
2005
Language
English
Pages
239-253
Publication/Series
International Journal of Consumer Studies
Volume
29
Issue
3
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Topic
- Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
Keywords
- households
- residential energy behaviour
- sociology
- generations
- sociologi
- age
Status
Published
Project
- Households and energy behaviour
Research group
- Samhälle, utveckling och miljö
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1470-6431