Social Analysis of Energy Consumption Habits with an Emphasis on Household Gas Consumption

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Ph. D Student of Analysis of Social Problems of Iran, Department of Social sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mazandaran University

2 Associate Professor of Environmental Sociology, Department of Social sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mazandaran University

3 Assistant Professor of Environmental Social Studies, Department of Agriculture, Shahid Beheshti University

4 Associate Professor of Analysis of Social Problems of Iran, Department of Social sciences, Faculty of Humanity and Social Sciences, Mazandaran University

Abstract

Introduction: One of the mechanisms ensuring the continuity of new behaviors is the creation of new habits. The main purpose of policy interventions, including education or economic incentives, is to create behaviors that are sustainable, such as recycling or optimizing water or energy consumption (gas or electricity) or, more simply, creating positive habits. Social researchers emphasize on the importance of the apparent need for a basic change in mindset and practice of consumption. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the consumption habits of household gas consumers with emphasis on consumption optimization.
Method: This study was carried out in Mazandaran province in November 2019. Multi-stage cluster sampling was used to determine the sample size. The sample consisted of 430 household subscribers of Mazandaran Province Gas Company. Survey method was used and a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. In this research, using AMOS software, a structural model based on the theoretical model was presented to measure the fitness of the theoretical model to the sample data.
Findings: Knowledge of gas consumption has shown greatest impact on the habit of gas consumption. After that, there is the awareness of the negative consequences of gas consumption. While family culture has had the most indirect effect on gas consumption habits. Also, there is no significant relationship between income, price of gas, gender and gas consumption.  In general, the results of the present study showed that there is a relationship between gas consumption knowledge and gas consumption practice. If we consider the attitude in three dimensions (feeling, knowledge, and behavior), the dimensions of knowledge and emotion in the present study (awareness of the negative consequences of gas consumption) are a good motivation to strengthen gas consumption habits. The environmental knowledge is a dimension of environmental studies, which seek to instill a sense of environmental responsibility by increasing environmental awareness.
 Results & Conclusion: The goal of changing habits and daily routines in consumption is to provide self-regulated tools or internal control that can be achieved through training and information acquisition. The person must evaluate this information to determine if this information can enable him or her to deal with the threat. In future research, it is better to explain energy consumption habits based on the theory of protection motivation; In particular, the habits expressed in this study are closely related to the issue of safety in consumption. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for the misuse of energy consumption technologies, as the consumer is unaware of the relationship between personal behavior and the direct impact of current habits and behaviors on the environment and energy consumption.

Keywords

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Quarterly of Social Studies and Research in Iran
Volume 9, Issue 2
July 2020
Pages 291-313

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