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Hayley Vujcich Masters of Environmental Studies SGEES Victoria University of Wellington. Making choices about household heating Investigating socio-behavioural barriers to energy efficiency. Thesis topic. How people perceive their energy use through looking at household heating
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Hayley Vujcich Masters of Environmental Studies SGEES Victoria University of Wellington Making choices about household heatingInvestigating socio-behavioural barriers to energy efficiency
Thesis topic • How people perceive their energy use through looking at household heating • sustainable behaviour and consumption • what issues are pertinent to people • Previous work in identifying barriers to change • MfE's Warm Homes project • EnergyWise home grants
Housing and heating in New Zealand - background • Poor heating record • one room heating • toughing it... • Low energy use compared to similar countries • 30% less than Australia, 50% less than UK • Lowest per capita consumption in OECD • Around 30% goes on space heating • Health effects • Temperature for a healthy home: WHO: 18-21°C NZ average: 17.3°C
Background continued… • Household carbon eq. emissions ~9% of total energy sector (Melhuish, 2007) • Energy related GHG emissions set to increase by 30% in 50 years (MED, 2006) • Home energy use/heating tensions • Sustainability • Climate change • Security of supply • Health • Cultural identities • Comfort
Housing, Heating and Health Study 2005-06 (HHHS) • Otago University School of Medicine • examine effects of temperature and indoor pollutants on children's health • 412 households in Lower Hutt, Porirua, Christchurch, Dunedin, Bluff • Retrofitting houses with new heaters • Data: respiratory symptoms recorded, householder surveys, air quality and temperature… • Me: WTP/WTA data, factors in heater choice
Aim and objectives Aim Provide an understanding of the socio-behavioural barriers to energy efficiency through looking at how people are thinking household heating choices. Objectives • Analyse people’s willingness to pay for home heaters. • Explore perceptions of socio-behavioural barriers to the uptake of more energy efficient technology and behaviours. • Identify what issues people are linking to their household heating choices. • Investigate the role of information in household heating choices.
Conceptual Framework Behavioural economics • Informed by psychology • Recognises that people are rationally bounded • Acknowledges • social norms, role of other's behaviour • role of habits • heuristics and difficultly at computing Transfer of technology • barriers to change – economic, socio-economic/behavioural, technological
Methodology • Not yet concrete! • Parallel parts to paper • Analysis of WTP HHHS data • Focus group research • Survey • Follow up HHHS participants Part 1 – understand value Part 2 – investigate barriers
1. WTP/A from HHHS • WTP - non-market valuation • Average WTP vs heater price • WTP – WTA differences • WTA data from Intervention group • Analysis • demographic data • Q17 and Q18 – rating importance of factors in choosing heater type
2. Focus group and survey • Investigating internal barriers to energy efficiency: • Knowledge • what people know about their energy use • what issues that connect it with • awareness of problems • Attitudes and beliefs • role these play in problem and solution • Information • how do people learn/seek information • who do they trust
What this all is hoping to achieve • Looking towards policy advice... • what people listen to • who they listen to • how people can be provided with more useful information • Looking at environmental behaviour change and understandings • how people can be supported to make more sustainable, healthier residential energy choices