Abstract
Household energy consumption is a function of many and quite different factors. Hypothetically one would expect energy consumption to be related to such divergent variables as comfort preferences, thermostat setting, socioeconomic status, family cycle, energy prices, perceived costs and benefits of energy conservation, normative influences, energy attitudes, energy knowledge, household behavior, lifestyle, and, of course, dwelling characteristics (heating system, insulation, sun orientation) and climatological factors (outside temperature). The purpose of this chapter is to analyze which factors influence consumer energy consumption. Given the nature of this study the emphasis will be on primarily nontechnical factors. As such this chapter is an attempt to answer research problem one.
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Notes
This review is not meant to be exhaustive but rather presents a selective overview.
See Schelling (1971, 1977) for a captivating description of many situations in which short-term, self-interested behavior produces long-term collective disadvantages.
See also Wilson (1977).
See also Alchian and Demsetz (1973), and Furubotn and Pejovich (1974).
For the differences between social traps and Prisoner’s Dilemmas see Brechner and Linder (1981, p. 42), and Stern (1976).
For a different view on the relationship between group size and supply of collective goods see Frohlich, Oppenheimer and Young (1971, p. 145–150).
See also Olson and Zeckhauser (1966).
Cf. Stern’s experiment on a simulated car pool (Stern, 1976).
As far as this strategy is concerned Platt especially refers to Tharp and Wetzel (1969).
Edney (1980), for instance, argues that social traps and commons dilemmas are not just situations of conflicting rationalities, but primarily situations of conflicting value systems. He also blames Platt for having a rather mechanistic view on human behavior and for excluding “positive humanistic tendencies in people” (Edney, 1980, p. 134). Edney favors solutions to social traps and common dilemmas based on territory and trust. ( See also Cass Edney, 1978 ).
See also Olsen (1982).
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© 1985 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Ester, P. (1985). Consumer Attitudes, Consumer Behavior and Energy Conservation: A Behavioral Science Perspective. In: Consumer Behavior and Energy Conservation. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7710-6_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7710-6_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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