AN ANTECEDENT INTERVENTION STUDY OF RESIDENTIAL ENERGY CONSERVATION IN HANGZHOU, CHINA

Abstract

To the energy leaders in the world, energy efficiency would often be regarded as one of the high priority issues with a relatively low emphasis on addressing it. This stable issue requires measures beyond the existing ones in order to achieve an optimal result of energy efficiency. Residential sector has been regarded as one of the highly contributable sectors to the energy consumption. Hence, the research attempts to (1) evaluate whether the direct energy consumption – households’ electricity of two residential community in Hangzhou, China, can be effectively reduced through two antecedent intervention methods, which are displayed information via stickers and social media via WeChat message; (2) examine how energy consumption behaviour and electricity usage are influenced by human values; (3) determine whether there is a relationship between self-reported behaviour with electricity consumption reduction. 116 complete sample sizes were obtained and used for the statistical test analysis –Kruskal-Wallis Test and Spearman’s rho Test. The results indicated a significant difference between WeChat and Control Group. There was a reduction of in average consumption for the group receiving WeChat messages to motivate energy savings twice a month. Further, it was found a significant correlation between human values with behaviour and electricity consumption. There was also a statistically significant relationship found of consumption reduction to the energy consumption behaviour. This research demonstrates the importance of behavioural substance on the energy consumption reduction, as well as the intervention elements to change human behaviour in energy consumption. The study has also revealed some possible limitations to be acknowledged to the future context.