Social Marketing and Residential Electricity Consumption: Every Kilowatt Matters

Breda McCarthy, Lynne Eagle, Amy Osmond, David Low

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    Abstract

    This book chapter explores consumers’ attitudes towards climate change and energy resources along with their electricity consumption practices in the home. The discussion is situated within the wider context of sustainability. The research is important, because firstly, research into the electricity consumption practices of Australian households is surprisingly sparse, albeit growing (Moloney, Horne, and Fien, Energy Policy 38(12):7614–7623, 2010; Mullaly, Energy Policy, 26(14):1041–1052, 1998; Sommerfeld, Buys, and Vine, Energy Policy 105:10–16, 2017). Secondly, it is essential to gain a better insight into the ‘attitudes-behaviour’ gap which can underpin effective and targeted social marketing campaigns, and finally, promoting energy-efficient behaviours may play a role in climate change mitigation efforts. Findings are based on a consumer survey of 325 respondents in a regional city. The research shows that survey participants attach importance to minimizing electricity usage in the home and the adoption of roof-top solar systems is related to age, education, political affiliation and home ownership. The study shows that there is a divergence in attitudes towards the use of fossil fuels as a source of electricity generation, however patterns of electricity consumption in the home are quite similar across the sample. Recommendations therefore focus on behavioural modifications to reduce electricity use during peak demand and encourage the installation of electricity-saving devices in the home.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationClean, Green and Responsible?
    Subtitle of host publicationSoundings from Down Under
    EditorsGabriel Eweje, Ralph J. Bathurst
    Place of PublicationCham
    PublisherSpringer, Cham
    Chapter7
    Pages107-131
    Number of pages25
    Edition1
    ISBN (Electronic)978-3-030-21436-4
    ISBN (Print)978-3-030-21438-8, 978-3-030-21435-7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Publication series

    NameCSR, Sustainability, Ethics and Governance
    ISSN (Print)2196-7075
    ISSN (Electronic)2196-7083

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    This work has been funded by the College of Business, Law & Governance, James Cook University, Townsville.

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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