Factors Driving Consumer Involvement in Energy Consumption and Energy-Efficient Purchasing Behavior: Evidence from Korean Residential Buildings
The recent rapid transition in energy markets and technological advances in demand-side interventions has renewed attention on consumer behavior. A rich literature on potential factors affecting residential energy use or green technology adoption has highlighted the need to better understand the fun...
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doaj-e14382bfaacc4de5a130e310e1b208692020-11-25T03:00:22ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502020-07-01125573557310.3390/su12145573Factors Driving Consumer Involvement in Energy Consumption and Energy-Efficient Purchasing Behavior: Evidence from Korean Residential BuildingsSoyoung Yoo0Jiyong Eom1Ingoo Han2College of Business, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 85 Hoegiro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02455, KoreaCollege of Business, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 85 Hoegiro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02455, KoreaCollege of Business, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 85 Hoegiro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02455, KoreaThe recent rapid transition in energy markets and technological advances in demand-side interventions has renewed attention on consumer behavior. A rich literature on potential factors affecting residential energy use or green technology adoption has highlighted the need to better understand the fundamental causes of consumer heterogeneity in buildings’ energy-related behavior. Unresolved questions such as which consumers are most likely to opt into demand-side management programs and what factors might explain the wide variation in behavioral responses to such programs make it difficult for policy-makers to develop cost-effective energy efficiency or demand response programs for residential buildings. This study extends the literature on involvement theory and energy-related behavior by proposing a holistic construct of household energy involvement (HEI) to represent consumers’ personal level of interest in energy services. Based on a survey of 5487 Korean households, it finds that HEI has a stronger association with consumer values, such as preferences for indoor thermal comfort and automation, than with socioeconomic or housing characteristics and demonstrates HEI’s potential as a reliable, integrated predictor of both energy consumption and energy-efficient purchases. The study illuminates the multifaceted influences that shape energy-related behavior in residential buildings and offers new tools to help utility regulators identify and profile viable market segments, improve the cost-effectiveness of their programs, and eventually promote urban sustainability.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5573residential energy consumptionhousehold energy involvementbuildings’ energy efficiencysustainability assessmentmarket segmentationpurchasing behavior |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Soyoung Yoo Jiyong Eom Ingoo Han |
spellingShingle |
Soyoung Yoo Jiyong Eom Ingoo Han Factors Driving Consumer Involvement in Energy Consumption and Energy-Efficient Purchasing Behavior: Evidence from Korean Residential Buildings Sustainability residential energy consumption household energy involvement buildings’ energy efficiency sustainability assessment market segmentation purchasing behavior |
author_facet |
Soyoung Yoo Jiyong Eom Ingoo Han |
author_sort |
Soyoung Yoo |
title |
Factors Driving Consumer Involvement in Energy Consumption and Energy-Efficient Purchasing Behavior: Evidence from Korean Residential Buildings |
title_short |
Factors Driving Consumer Involvement in Energy Consumption and Energy-Efficient Purchasing Behavior: Evidence from Korean Residential Buildings |
title_full |
Factors Driving Consumer Involvement in Energy Consumption and Energy-Efficient Purchasing Behavior: Evidence from Korean Residential Buildings |
title_fullStr |
Factors Driving Consumer Involvement in Energy Consumption and Energy-Efficient Purchasing Behavior: Evidence from Korean Residential Buildings |
title_full_unstemmed |
Factors Driving Consumer Involvement in Energy Consumption and Energy-Efficient Purchasing Behavior: Evidence from Korean Residential Buildings |
title_sort |
factors driving consumer involvement in energy consumption and energy-efficient purchasing behavior: evidence from korean residential buildings |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2020-07-01 |
description |
The recent rapid transition in energy markets and technological advances in demand-side interventions has renewed attention on consumer behavior. A rich literature on potential factors affecting residential energy use or green technology adoption has highlighted the need to better understand the fundamental causes of consumer heterogeneity in buildings’ energy-related behavior. Unresolved questions such as which consumers are most likely to opt into demand-side management programs and what factors might explain the wide variation in behavioral responses to such programs make it difficult for policy-makers to develop cost-effective energy efficiency or demand response programs for residential buildings. This study extends the literature on involvement theory and energy-related behavior by proposing a holistic construct of household energy involvement (HEI) to represent consumers’ personal level of interest in energy services. Based on a survey of 5487 Korean households, it finds that HEI has a stronger association with consumer values, such as preferences for indoor thermal comfort and automation, than with socioeconomic or housing characteristics and demonstrates HEI’s potential as a reliable, integrated predictor of both energy consumption and energy-efficient purchases. The study illuminates the multifaceted influences that shape energy-related behavior in residential buildings and offers new tools to help utility regulators identify and profile viable market segments, improve the cost-effectiveness of their programs, and eventually promote urban sustainability. |
topic |
residential energy consumption household energy involvement buildings’ energy efficiency sustainability assessment market segmentation purchasing behavior |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5573 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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