WILL ELECTRICITY SAVING HELP CONSERVE WATER AND GAS IN HOUSEHOLDS? A PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL SPILLOVER RESEARCH OF UNDERLYING PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Global warming and climate change have always been buzzwords when referring to hot topics internationally. Spillover effect has also been a relatively new area of study which enables critical analysis on how one’s behaviour is able to impact the environment by generating behavioural spillover effect. However, much of the psychological factors behind spillover is still unknown. This intervention study examines (1) the effects of household electricity consumption on other pro-environmental behaviours such as water and gas conservation and (2) the possible psychological mechanisms behind such spillover, specifically focusing on environmental portrait values. A sample of 89 households from 3 main residential regions of Singapore was randomly allocated to either a control group or two other treatment groups with either monetary framing feedback or environmental framing feedback, both of with has a default goal setting of 10% reduction in electrical consumption. Weekly feedback of their electrical usage was also given accordingly to the groups they were assigned to. Participants were also asked to respond to a demographic survey and value orientation survey before the intervention. Weekly electrical, water and gas usage was recorded 4 weeks before the intervention study and 4 weeks during the intervention study as information on their energy behaviour. SPSS software was also used to test the compiled data for their normality using a statistical method, followed by non-parametric tests for correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results show that the intervention did not help in electrical usage behaviour but shows promising potential in bringing about energy conservation. There was no evidence found for the hypothesized spillover effects when analysing environmental portrait value as well but similarly presents a potential deeper investigation to yield better results.