Patterns of Residential Energy Behavior

Investigated energy-related behavioral patterns, based on self-reported behaviors of 145 households in Vlaardingen, the Netherlands. Energy-related behavior may not be a separate type of behavior but a contingency for other types of household behaviors, such as recreation, childcare, and household chores. Findings indicate that 2 important aspects of energy contingency were home temperature and ventilation. Based on these 2 components, 5 clusters of behavior or behavioral patterns were distinguished: conservers, spenders, cool, warm, and average. The energy use of these clusters differed considerably. Conservers used less energy, while spenders used more energy than the average group. The cool and the warm cluster used less energy than the average group. For energy policy, the differences between these behavioral patterns (clusters) were relevant, whereas each cluster was different on sociodemographic and attitudinal variables. This required different strategies for changing and maintaining energy-related behaviors. (14 ref)