Informing a social practice theory framework with social-psychological factors for analyzing routinized energy consumption: A multivariate analysis of three practices

Abstract

A key factor contributing to the non-realization of energy efficiency potentials is the routinized way in which many energy consumption behaviors (ECBs) are performed. To analyze routinized ECBs, we draw on social practice theory and psychological concepts and suggest a framework that considers individual, social, and material factors. Based on our proposed framework and employing multivariate regression analysis, we gain new insights into associated factors of routinized ECBs-particularly for washing and drying clothes and showering. Analyzing data from a survey conducted among Swiss households in 2016 (n=5015), we find that individual values, practice-specific wants, and materials explain variations in routinized ECB performance. Furthermore, socio-demographic predictors shed light on cultural and status differences associated with routinized ECBs. This paper contributes to understanding associated factors of routinized ECBs by bridging practice theory and psychology-based factors.

“Taking action for the Reef?”–Australians do not connect Reef conservation with individual climate‐related actions

“…It is increasingly recognized that solving conservation challenges needs to consider human behavior (Cinner, 2018;Nilsson, Fielding, & Dean, 2020;Reddy et al, 2017). For conservation action to occur, the need for action and appropriate behavior must come to mind in real-world contexts, where actions are executed (or not) within the complex practices and settings of everyday life (Hargreaves, 2011;Hess, Samuel, & Burger, 2018). However, the best methods to ascertain this are not well established.…”

The Advent of Practice Theories in Research on Sustainable Consumption: Past, Current and Future Directions of the Field

“…Finally, the application of social practice theory from 2015 to date has been largely in the context of household energy use and demand; more specifically related to electricity consumption and usage [108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119] and thermal comfort [120][121][122][123][124][125][126][127][128][129].…”

Understanding Resource Consumption in the Home, Community and Society through Behaviour and Social Practice Theories

“…In the context of the home, changes in resource consumption have often been studied for individual practices [21,57,[68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77]. However, individual practices form part of the HSOP and should not be targeted in isolation.…”