Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development—Investigating Intention and Consumption among Low-Income Households in an Emerging Economy

Syed Ali Fazal (), Naeem Hayat and Abdullah Al Mamun
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Syed Ali Fazal: Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Business & Entrepreneurship, Daffodil International University, Daffodil Smart City, Birulia, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
Naeem Hayat: Global Entrepreneurship Research and Innovation Centre, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Kota Bharu 16100, Kelantan, Malaysia
Abdullah Al Mamun: UKM-Graduate School of Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: To mitigate the harmful effects of climate change and progress toward achieving sustainable development goals, renewable energy sources should be available to low-income households. Households depend heavily on traditional energy sources. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the determinants that influence the intention and consumption of renewable energy among low-income households in Malaysia. Quantitative data was collected from 420 households through structured interviews. Analysis was conducted using SEM-PLS. The results revealed that perceived benefits and environmental concerns influence environmental attitudes. Motivation, skills, and knowledge affect subjective norms and perceived behavioral control, respectively. The study also found that attitude towards the environment and perceived behavioral control influence households’ intention towards renewable energy consumption and renewable energy consumption behavior. The results provided a clear idea of households’ intention in emerging economies towards renewable energy consumption to protect environmental damage from the harmful effects of the traditional use of energy sources. Therefore, policymakers in developing nations should focus on the feasibility of renewable energy projects and design group-agnostic campaigns for low-income households to ensure economic, social, and environmental sustainability through the mass adoption of renewable energy.

Keywords: low-income households; renewable energy; rural Malaysia; sustainable development; theory of planned behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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