Pro-Environmental Behaviour in Student Residences at Rhodes University, South Africa

Gladman Thondhlana and Thina N. Hlatshwayo
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Gladman Thondhlana: Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
Thina N. Hlatshwayo: Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 8, 1-19

Abstract: Human behaviour is at the centre of most environmental problems; hence, the promotion of pro-environmental behaviour is considered to be a pathway towards sustainability. Despite the availability of insights gained from pro-environmental behaviour studies, mainly from household and workplace settings, a key question remains—can these insights be applied in university residence settings? Within university campuses, student residences are a major entity in sustainability debates because they are major consumers of resources including paper, water and energy with severe repercussions for university budgets and the environment. Using a questionnaire survey, this study explores reported pro-environmental behaviour and its determinants at Rhodes University, South Africa. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics where relevant. The findings show a high level of heterogeneity in reported pro-environmental behaviour, attributed to a suite of internal and external factors. Internal dispositional factors seemed to constrain students from acting pro-environmentally. This study highlights the need to encourage environmental behaviour in university residence settings by supporting the antecedents of and getting rid of barriers to pro-environmental actions.

Keywords: university residences; mindful consumption; water-saving; energy-saving; university environmental education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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