Behavioural attitudes towards water saving? Evidence from a study of environmental actions

Household Adoption of Water-Efficient Equipment: The Role of Socio-Economic Factors, Environmental Attitudes and Policy

“…A perceived environmental threat, such as strong perceptions of the severity of a water shortage, has been found to be closely related to intentions to conserve water by changing 13 The same type of arguments is found in most analyses of energy-efficiency appliances (Sutherland, 1991). behaviour (Kantola, Syme and Nesdale, 1983;Gilg and Barr, 2006;Lam, 2006). In a survey of Kaoshiung residents (Taiwan), it was found that a strong perception of environmental threat, a strong belief in the efficacy of adopting a dual-flush controller compared to alternative strategies, a high estimation of the number of other residents that would take action to save water, and a high estimation of the monetary savings that could be obtained by adopting a dual-flush controller, significantly contributed to positive intentions to adopt a dual-flush toilet (Lam, 2006).…”

“…In a survey of Kaoshiung residents (Taiwan), it was found that a strong perception of environmental threat, a strong belief in the efficacy of adopting a dual-flush controller compared to alternative strategies, a high estimation of the number of other residents that would take action to save water, and a high estimation of the monetary savings that could be obtained by adopting a dual-flush controller, significantly contributed to positive intentions to adopt a dual-flush toilet (Lam, 2006). 14 Gilg and Barr (2006) find that water savers are more likely to perceive an environmental threat and to be aware of a social norm to conserve water (the example of friends and neighbours), whereas non-environmentalists express greater belief in their rights to use water according to their own demand. Finally, in their analysis of water conservation behaviour, Domene and Sauri (2006) found that households with a higher score on the index measuring water conservation habits reduced their water use between 4.3 and 4.6 litres per capita per day.…”

“…A cluster analysis of survey data on 1,265 households in Devon, England, found that households that are more likely to adopt water saving behaviour are older, tended to own their home, are more likely to have a degree, and are members of community groups (Gilg and Barr, 2006). 12 Four clusters of individuals are identified: i) committed environmentalists, ii) mainstream environmentalists, iii) occasional environmentalists, and iv) nonenvironmentalists.…”

“…The result 11 The two samples differed significantly as concerns education and income. 12 Gilg and Barr (2006) did not study the adoption of water-efficient equipment, only behavioural change. that owners will tend to conserve water and install water-saving devices more readily than renters is not surprising knowing that owners usually pay their water bills (while this is not always the case for renters) and that only the owner will reap the long term benefits of the investment (that eventually may be capitalized into the real estate price).…”

“…Factor analysis is another possible technique for aggregating answers measured on a Likert scale (Gilg and Barr, 2006). 20 We also started out by including a fourth index created from the survey and representing attitudes towards the solutions of environmental problems -for example, whether the individual household can contribute, or whether governmental policies addressing environmental problems should not entail supplementary costs to the household -but this index was never significant and was excluded in the final estimation that is presented here.…”