FACTORS STIMULATING ENERGY CONSERVATION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF HOUSEHOLDS: THE CASE OF ST. PETERSBURG
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Аннотация 2
ABSTRACT 3
STATEMENT ABOUT THE INDEPENDENT CHARACTER OF THE MASTER THESIS 4 INTRODUCTION 6
1. STATE-OF-THE-ART OF RESIDENTIAL ENERGY CONSERVATION 9
1.1 Theoretical background of household energy conservation studies 9
1.2 Literature review of factors influencing household energy consumption
and conservation 14
1.2.1 Socio-demographic factors 14
1.2.2 Psychological factors 16
1.2.3 Behavioral biases and anomalies 17
1.2.4 Technological and environmental factors 19
1.2.5 Dwelling factors 20
1.3 Summary of key findings 21
1.4 Research methodology 23
1.4.1 Overview of previous research 23
1.4.2 Organization of the study 26
1.5 Theoretical study 31
1.5.1 Theoretical framework 31
1.5.2 Research hypotheses 32
2. EMPIRICAL STUDY OF FACTORS STIMULATING ENERGY CONSERVATION AND
ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF HOUSEHOLDS IN ST. PETERSBURG 35
2.1 Methodology and data 35
2.1.1 Methods used for empirical study 35
2.1.2 Research data 38
2.1.3 Generation and description of variables 40
2.2 Results of empirical study 50
2.2.1 Curtailment behavior model 50
2.2.2 Model for energy-efficient appliances purchase 55
2.2.3 Model for installation of energy efficient retrofits 57
2.2.4 Consumer profiles based on cluster analysis 61
2.3 Policy recommendations 70
2.4 Research limitations and directions for future research 72
CONCLUSION 74
REFERENCES 76
APPENDIX 1 QUESTUONNAIRE FOR ST. PETERSBURG RESIDENTS 79
ABSTRACT 3
STATEMENT ABOUT THE INDEPENDENT CHARACTER OF THE MASTER THESIS 4 INTRODUCTION 6
1. STATE-OF-THE-ART OF RESIDENTIAL ENERGY CONSERVATION 9
1.1 Theoretical background of household energy conservation studies 9
1.2 Literature review of factors influencing household energy consumption
and conservation 14
1.2.1 Socio-demographic factors 14
1.2.2 Psychological factors 16
1.2.3 Behavioral biases and anomalies 17
1.2.4 Technological and environmental factors 19
1.2.5 Dwelling factors 20
1.3 Summary of key findings 21
1.4 Research methodology 23
1.4.1 Overview of previous research 23
1.4.2 Organization of the study 26
1.5 Theoretical study 31
1.5.1 Theoretical framework 31
1.5.2 Research hypotheses 32
2. EMPIRICAL STUDY OF FACTORS STIMULATING ENERGY CONSERVATION AND
ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF HOUSEHOLDS IN ST. PETERSBURG 35
2.1 Methodology and data 35
2.1.1 Methods used for empirical study 35
2.1.2 Research data 38
2.1.3 Generation and description of variables 40
2.2 Results of empirical study 50
2.2.1 Curtailment behavior model 50
2.2.2 Model for energy-efficient appliances purchase 55
2.2.3 Model for installation of energy efficient retrofits 57
2.2.4 Consumer profiles based on cluster analysis 61
2.3 Policy recommendations 70
2.4 Research limitations and directions for future research 72
CONCLUSION 74
REFERENCES 76
APPENDIX 1 QUESTUONNAIRE FOR ST. PETERSBURG RESIDENTS 79
In recent decades, the world has been experiencing the problem of global climate change, which is associated with an increase in temperature and increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The risks associated with climate change are characterized by ubiquitous and irreversible consequences for anthropogenic and natural systems and cause the occurrence of extreme weather events, the negative combined effect of high temperature and air pollution, and also the degradation of various ecosystems as a result of changes in thermal and humidity conditions (Government of the Russian Federation, 10/29/2021). At the same time, the problems of climate change are complex and affect primarily the population, infrastructure and climatedependent sectors of the economy, such as agriculture.
From the perspective of the international community, climate change has become a global concern, leading to the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992, the Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention in 1997 and the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. The main goal of these documents is to stabilize the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic impact on the climate, meanwhile the measures of these documents provide for the obligations of participating states to limit or reduce emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (United Nations, 5/5/1992).
At the moment Russia takes part the Framework Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, has ratified these international legal acts, and has also assumed obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Recently Russian Government issued a Socio-Economic Development Strategy with low level of greenhouse gas emissions that aims at 60% emissions reduce by 2050 as compared to 2019 levels (Government of the Russian Federation, 10/29/2021). The main activities of the strategy are aimed at industries that consume the most energy resources and include electricity production, industrial production, as well as the building and housing sector. At the same time, experts note that in the areas of electricity and industrial production, there is a steadily positive trend in energy efficiency improvements, while the residential sector is of concern due to deteriorating equipment and wasteful energy consumption by the population (Vedomosti, 7/11/2021).
The problem of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the residential sector is also stressed by the fact that about 70% of all greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere come from cities, according to UN-Habitat (UN-Habitat, 2022). At the same time, intensive urbanization and the corresponding growth of agglomerations lead to the fact that this share continues to grow due to an increase in population density, economic and social activity (Bibri, Krogstie, 2017).
The main tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the residential sector is rapidly developing energy-efficient technologies that have come under public attention as the main means to reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency. However, the introduction of these technologies in existing residential buildings is often problematic due to the high investments required and the lack of willingness of people to take part in their financing. Moreover, the energy behavior of households is often unconscious and wasteful, which entails economic, environmental, and social costs for society as a whole (Chen et al, 2017).
With the impossibility of making complex investments in the energy efficiency of the housing stock, as well as escalating environmental issues associated with increasing energy consumption, it is of great importance to stimulate sustainable household behavior in the field of energy consumption. In this context, it is necessary to identify the factors influencing household energy conservation and energy efficiency, which can become the focus of appropriate policy regulation.
The goal of this work is to develop policy recommendations for the authorities to stimulate energy conservation and energy efficiency of households on the example of St. Petersburg. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to perform the following objectives:
1. To classify households’ energy behaviors and their characteristics.
2. To identify factors that influence household energy conservation and energy efficiency.
3. To estimate the impact of these factors on household intentions to conserve energy and increase energy efficiency.
4. To identify user profiles based on cluster analysis of the most significant factors.
5. To describe the portraits of household’s profiles that are typical for St. Petersburg, their preferences, and possible options for influencing their energy behavior.
This work is focused on studying the behavior of people in the process of energy consumption. In this case, the subjects of research are energy conservation and energy efficiency of households and factors that influence various types of energy behavior. The investigation of the problem situation and the solution of the goal of the work are carried out in the format of an empirical study, which is aimed at putting forward and testing hypotheses about the significance of factors affecting related energy behavior. This study will use methods such as reviewing the literature on household energy consumption and conservation, collecting information through a survey, and applying econometric analysis.
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From the perspective of the international community, climate change has become a global concern, leading to the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992, the Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention in 1997 and the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. The main goal of these documents is to stabilize the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic impact on the climate, meanwhile the measures of these documents provide for the obligations of participating states to limit or reduce emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (United Nations, 5/5/1992).
At the moment Russia takes part the Framework Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, has ratified these international legal acts, and has also assumed obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Recently Russian Government issued a Socio-Economic Development Strategy with low level of greenhouse gas emissions that aims at 60% emissions reduce by 2050 as compared to 2019 levels (Government of the Russian Federation, 10/29/2021). The main activities of the strategy are aimed at industries that consume the most energy resources and include electricity production, industrial production, as well as the building and housing sector. At the same time, experts note that in the areas of electricity and industrial production, there is a steadily positive trend in energy efficiency improvements, while the residential sector is of concern due to deteriorating equipment and wasteful energy consumption by the population (Vedomosti, 7/11/2021).
The problem of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the residential sector is also stressed by the fact that about 70% of all greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere come from cities, according to UN-Habitat (UN-Habitat, 2022). At the same time, intensive urbanization and the corresponding growth of agglomerations lead to the fact that this share continues to grow due to an increase in population density, economic and social activity (Bibri, Krogstie, 2017).
The main tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the residential sector is rapidly developing energy-efficient technologies that have come under public attention as the main means to reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency. However, the introduction of these technologies in existing residential buildings is often problematic due to the high investments required and the lack of willingness of people to take part in their financing. Moreover, the energy behavior of households is often unconscious and wasteful, which entails economic, environmental, and social costs for society as a whole (Chen et al, 2017).
With the impossibility of making complex investments in the energy efficiency of the housing stock, as well as escalating environmental issues associated with increasing energy consumption, it is of great importance to stimulate sustainable household behavior in the field of energy consumption. In this context, it is necessary to identify the factors influencing household energy conservation and energy efficiency, which can become the focus of appropriate policy regulation.
The goal of this work is to develop policy recommendations for the authorities to stimulate energy conservation and energy efficiency of households on the example of St. Petersburg. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to perform the following objectives:
1. To classify households’ energy behaviors and their characteristics.
2. To identify factors that influence household energy conservation and energy efficiency.
3. To estimate the impact of these factors on household intentions to conserve energy and increase energy efficiency.
4. To identify user profiles based on cluster analysis of the most significant factors.
5. To describe the portraits of household’s profiles that are typical for St. Petersburg, their preferences, and possible options for influencing their energy behavior.
This work is focused on studying the behavior of people in the process of energy consumption. In this case, the subjects of research are energy conservation and energy efficiency of households and factors that influence various types of energy behavior. The investigation of the problem situation and the solution of the goal of the work are carried out in the format of an empirical study, which is aimed at putting forward and testing hypotheses about the significance of factors affecting related energy behavior. This study will use methods such as reviewing the literature on household energy consumption and conservation, collecting information through a survey, and applying econometric analysis.
...
In recent decades, the problem of climate change has become especially acute in the form of an increase in temperature and concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The problems of climate change are an object of global general concern among international community and lead to irreversible consequences for anthropogenic and natural systems, affecting the population, infrastructure and climate-dependent sectors of the economy, leading to the degradation of ecosystems.
Most carbon dioxide emissions are concentrated in cities and have a steady upward trend due to the accelerated pace of urbanization and the growth of agglomerations. At the same time, the residential sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and is of particular concern due to deteriorating equipment of residential buildings and energywasting behavior of households.
Considering the limited financial resources and the impossibility of a full-scale introduction of energy efficient technologies in the residential sector, the stimulation of sustainable behavior of households in relation to energy consumption and conservation deserves special attention. In this regard, the attention of researchers is focused on the question of what factors can affect the frequency and intensity of energy-conserving behavior of households and provide effective changes in household behavior.
As part of the study, the main types of energy behavior were revealed, including curtailment and efficiency behaviors, which are associated with different levels of financial and behavioral costs and depend on various factors. In addition, a review of the literature made it possible to identify the factors influencing the energy conservation and energy efficiency of households, classify them and systematize their contribution to energy behavior in the theoretical framework used in this study.
As a result of the econometric analysis of the constructed models, it was determined that curtailment behavior mostly depends on the psychological profiles of people, which are characterized by their level of knowledge, beliefs, perceived control over actions, and attitudes towards energy conservation. On the contrary, efficiency behavior is more objective and relies primarily on rational reasons and factors for making a purchase. Based on the conclusions about the statistical significance of the factors included in the model, the direction and strength of their influence on various types of energy behavior were assessed.
In addition, the study identified seven main household profiles according to the degree of involvement in various types of energy behavior. The interpretation of the profiles made it possible to formulate the main preferences and requests of user groups, as well as their psychological, sociodemographic and dwelling characteristics, on the basis of which recommendations were made to stimulate energy conservation and energy efficiency for each of the user groups.
Based on the results of the empirical analysis, the goal of this work was achieved. Based on the constructed models, recommendations were made for the authorities of St. Petersburg, resource-supplying organizations and institutions of territorial development on involving the population in energy-conserving activities. These recommendations focus on informing the population, conducting educational activities in the field of energy conservation and efficiency, positioning certain characteristics of energy-efficient products and organizing new forms of interaction between the state and society, the purpose of which is to stimulate energy conservation and energy efficiency of households.
The results of this work and the approaches used in the econometric analysis can be applied in the field of scientific research on household energy behavior and pro-environmental behavior, which determine the theoretical contribution of this work. The recommendations formed on the basis of the empirical analysis reflect the practical significance of this work and set the direction for the work of St. Petersburg authorities, resource-supplying organizations and territorial development institutions to stimulate household energy conservation and energy efficiency.
Most carbon dioxide emissions are concentrated in cities and have a steady upward trend due to the accelerated pace of urbanization and the growth of agglomerations. At the same time, the residential sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and is of particular concern due to deteriorating equipment of residential buildings and energywasting behavior of households.
Considering the limited financial resources and the impossibility of a full-scale introduction of energy efficient technologies in the residential sector, the stimulation of sustainable behavior of households in relation to energy consumption and conservation deserves special attention. In this regard, the attention of researchers is focused on the question of what factors can affect the frequency and intensity of energy-conserving behavior of households and provide effective changes in household behavior.
As part of the study, the main types of energy behavior were revealed, including curtailment and efficiency behaviors, which are associated with different levels of financial and behavioral costs and depend on various factors. In addition, a review of the literature made it possible to identify the factors influencing the energy conservation and energy efficiency of households, classify them and systematize their contribution to energy behavior in the theoretical framework used in this study.
As a result of the econometric analysis of the constructed models, it was determined that curtailment behavior mostly depends on the psychological profiles of people, which are characterized by their level of knowledge, beliefs, perceived control over actions, and attitudes towards energy conservation. On the contrary, efficiency behavior is more objective and relies primarily on rational reasons and factors for making a purchase. Based on the conclusions about the statistical significance of the factors included in the model, the direction and strength of their influence on various types of energy behavior were assessed.
In addition, the study identified seven main household profiles according to the degree of involvement in various types of energy behavior. The interpretation of the profiles made it possible to formulate the main preferences and requests of user groups, as well as their psychological, sociodemographic and dwelling characteristics, on the basis of which recommendations were made to stimulate energy conservation and energy efficiency for each of the user groups.
Based on the results of the empirical analysis, the goal of this work was achieved. Based on the constructed models, recommendations were made for the authorities of St. Petersburg, resource-supplying organizations and institutions of territorial development on involving the population in energy-conserving activities. These recommendations focus on informing the population, conducting educational activities in the field of energy conservation and efficiency, positioning certain characteristics of energy-efficient products and organizing new forms of interaction between the state and society, the purpose of which is to stimulate energy conservation and energy efficiency of households.
The results of this work and the approaches used in the econometric analysis can be applied in the field of scientific research on household energy behavior and pro-environmental behavior, which determine the theoretical contribution of this work. The recommendations formed on the basis of the empirical analysis reflect the practical significance of this work and set the direction for the work of St. Petersburg authorities, resource-supplying organizations and territorial development institutions to stimulate household energy conservation and energy efficiency.
