Review on the Importance of Gender Perspective in Household Energy-Saving Behavior and Energy Transition for Sustainability

Abstract

Energy-saving and efficiency represent a crucial role in achieving a clean environment as well as economic and social development, providing substantial benefits to stakeholders, including householders. Better cost savings can be achieved by simply changing behavior. However, real energy users lack proper technical energy knowledge, awareness, and education in most cases. In most countries, women are involved in a higher percentage of energy activities in household chores but have less gender participation in energy decisions. In this regard, a gender perspective effectively understands energy users’ pragmatic and strategic needs for energy-saving behavior improvement. Previous literature reviews have been focusing on specific aspects of energy sustainability; however, no review has focused on energy-saving from a gender perspective to the best of our knowledge. It aims to provide a systematic review of literature on energy-saving and management, highlighting the importance of gender roles and fulfilling the literature’s study gaps that provide future possible research streams. The review finds that females use lower energy than males in household activities that has supported in household energy-saving behavior. In addition, gender, income, family composition, ownership, and education are significant influencing factors in energy-saving behavior, and gender differences are rooted in socialization, responsibility, and choice of energy appliances that have impacted energy decisions influencing energy-saving behavior and sustainability goals.

Gender role differentiation in household fuel transition decision-making: Implications for education and training in Uganda

“…Gender accounts for crucial roles from a social aspect and energysaving process analysis because men and women have different needs. Existing gender norms, including the power relations between them, are likely to focus less on the benefits of women in most countries where socially and culturally defined gender norms have created barriers to energy-related activities (Shrestha et al, 2021). The predefined norms that are not in favor of women engaging in energyrelated activities that would improve women's welfare exacerbate poverty among women (ENERGIA, 2019).…”

“…Remarkably, in their study "Review on the importance gender perspective in household energy saving and energy transition for sustainability, " Shrestha et al (2021) concluded that reviewing household energy-saving behavior while keeping gender roles in consideration led to gender-sensitive energy policies that had a remarkable role in changing people's mindset and perceptions to increase motivation, gender participation, and change habits. Ultimately, gender energy-saving behavior has the strength to achieve SDG goal 7, in terms of energy security, accessibility, and affordability for all, thus having a positive impact and reducing energy poverty.…”

“…Heredia et al (2022), through analyzing interview responses, noted that the feminization of energy poverty is just another example of gender inequality. In most economies, women are involved highly in energy activities in households chores but have less gender participation in gender decisions (Shrestha et al, 2021).…”

“…Access to modern energy can have significant benefits in improving the quality of life of women but these benefits may only be realized if energy projects are designed and targeted after careful attention is given to local energy availability and household decision-making processes (Köhlin et al, 2011;Clancy et al, 2012). In most economies, women are highly involved in energy activities in households chores but have less gender participation in gender decisions (Shrestha et al, 2021;Heredia et al, 2022). In most countries, socially and culturally defined gender norms have created barriers to energyrelated activities (Shrestha et al, 2021).…”

A Meta-Analysis Review of Occupant Behaviour Models for Assessing Demand-Side Energy Consumption

“…The review presented by Shrestha et al [12] on household energy-saving behaviour highlighted the importance of gender roles in energy-saving and management in households. The study further showed that occupant-specific variables such as gender, income, family composition, education, headship, age-group, habits, and other socio-economic factors significantly influence energy-saving behaviours.…”