Extracting Group-Level Factors of Energy-Saving Behaviors Based on Group Dynamic

Jiaolan Zhu (), Patrick X. W. Zou, Jiayuan Wang () and Zhikun Ding
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Jiaolan Zhu: Swinburne University of Technology
Patrick X. W. Zou: Swinburne University of Technology
Jiayuan Wang: Shenzhen University
Zhikun Ding: Shenzhen University

A chapter in Proceedings of the 24th International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate, 2021, pp 1493-1503 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The building sector is responsible for nearly 32% of global energy use and 19% of total energy-related greenhouse gas emission. Around 80% of energy consumption variation is caused by occupant behavior. Hence, changing people’s energy-using behavior has been considered as a relatively low-cost and sustainable method for reducing building energy consumption. An in-depth understanding of determinant factors of occupants’ energy-saving behavior is a significant prerequisite for behavioral improvement. Previous studies focused on individual-level factors, ignoring the group-level factors that may affect occupant behavior. However, there group-level factors remain paramount importance, because most occupants interact with each other in shared space. To fill this research gap, this study explored the influence of the group-level factors on individual energy-saving behavior based on group dynamic theory. An empirical study was conducted in the shared space contextualized in college student dormitories in Zhuhai, China. Literature bibliometric and semi-structured interviews were initially conducted to identify group-level factors affecting energy-saving behavior. Questionnaire survey was used for data collection and structural equation modeling was then used for analyzing factorial interactions. It is indicated that descriptive norm exerts the greatest positive effect on individuals to conserve energy, followed by group interaction, while the effect of perceived self-transcendence group value seems minimal. The present study contributes to the body of knowledge by clarifying the mechanism of individual energy-saving behavior with a group-level perspective. Besides, findings of this empirical study provide a guideline for improving behavioral change strategies regarding energy conservation with establishing group-based mechanisms.

Keywords: Energy-saving behavior; Group dynamic theory; Group-level factors; Structural equation modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-15-8892-1_104

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DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-8892-1_104

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