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Portrait Anna-Lisa Linden. Photo.

Anna-Lisa Linden

Professor emerita

Portrait Anna-Lisa Linden. Photo.

Residential energy behaviour: does generation matter?

Author

  • Annika Carlsson-Kanyama
  • Anna-Lisa Lindén

Summary, in English

In this study we tested the relevance of the generational hypothesis, i.e. whether the era in which household members grew up matters when understanding and predicting their behaviour, on a sample of 600 Swedish households. These households participated in a survey where they answered questions about their own energy-related residential energy behaviour. The answers were analysed for differences between age groups, between different attitudes to environmental issues, between income levels and between dwelling types. The results showed that age was as good an indicator as the other parameters. In several areas, older households had a more energy-efficient residential behaviour than younger ones regarding laundry practices, indoor heat regulation and bathing. According to the generational hypothesis, this finding implies higher energy use in the future. The study also shows that there is a broad scope for improving residential energy behaviour in Swedish society by implementing changes in laundry avoiding practices, dishwashing behaviour and indoor temperature regulation.

Department/s

  • Sociology

Publishing year

2005

Language

English

Pages

239-253

Publication/Series

International Journal of Consumer Studies

Volume

29

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)

Keywords

  • households
  • residential energy behaviour
  • sociology
  • generations
  • sociologi
  • age

Status

Published

Project

  • Households and energy behaviour

Research group

  • Samhälle, utveckling och miljö

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1470-6431