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11 – 20 of over 16000Says that the use of energy has always been a key to the supply of food, to physical comfort and to quality of life in general. Posits that the plethora of energy use and low cost…
Abstract
Says that the use of energy has always been a key to the supply of food, to physical comfort and to quality of life in general. Posits that the plethora of energy use and low cost since the 1950s had made radical improvements in lifestyle and social and economic structure to Western society. Suggests that some important questions for today's energy policy, these are as follows: what consumer will do in terms of energy conservation; which consumers are most likely to cut down on their energy use; and what influences could best effect a move towards more conservation. Attempts to clear up these questions for the benefit of part of the Dutch public. Data were gathered in April 1978, by use of mail questionnaires sent to consumers in four residential areas in Amsterdam, The Netherlands – these were selected to represent various types of living accommodation (apartments, attached single‐family units, etc.). Discusses the results in depth, offering explanations. Concludes that the essential question in energy policy today is: which consumers are making substantial efforts to conserve energy and what can be done to influence people to conserve?
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The study aims to investigate the differences among urban and rural consumers in terms of their energy and water sustainable consumption behaviour levels and drivers and also…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to investigate the differences among urban and rural consumers in terms of their energy and water sustainable consumption behaviour levels and drivers and also empirically blueprint conceptual frameworks highlighting urban and rural consumer drivers to consume sustainably.
Design/methodology/approach
This research follows an exploratory design using a qualitative approach; 14 in-depth interviews followed by one focus group were conducted with urban consumers; on the other hand, 18 in-depth interviews followed by one focus group were conducted with rural consumers.
Findings
The findings show that no differences exist among urban and rural consumers in terms of both their sustainable consumption levels and their drivers to consume sustainably; such findings were encapsulated in the form of one conceptual framework pertinent to both urban and rural consumers; it has the following relevant factors: consumers’ attitudes toward conservation, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, self-preference, public media influence, perceived economic value and perceived moral obligation to be relevant antecedents of conservation behaviour, which – in turn – drives sustainable purchase behaviours with the moderating effect of socio-demographic variables.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to extant literature as it provides evidence for the drivers of sustainable consumption behaviours of urban versus rural consumers in emerging countries; it also tentatively answers the question of whether the socio-demographic variables infer a difference in consumers’ sustainable consumption; finally, it studies sustainable consumption from a novel perspective with a focus on the relationship between its two pillars.
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Benhai Guo, Rongrong Zhang and Chaoqing Yuan
This paper attempts to study the impact of changing incentive strategies on enterprises' energy saving effort level and to construct an effective principal‐agent mechanism to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper attempts to study the impact of changing incentive strategies on enterprises' energy saving effort level and to construct an effective principal‐agent mechanism to achieve Pareto improvement of energy‐saving control.
Design/methodology/approach
Starting from the benefit relations between government and enterprises as well as their game strategies in energy conservation management, the impact of changing incentive strategies on enterprises' energy saving effort level and the asymmetric information situation of the players are studied taking into consideration the angle of strategies evolving in local government. Also, an effective principal‐agent mechanism to achieve Pareto improvement of energy‐saving control is constructed.
Findings
The results are convincing: interests of both the principal and agent had consistency under the principal‐agent mechanism, and the principal‐agent model was a mechanism with rich efficiency that could substantially arouse the enthusiasm of enterprises in energy saving. The comprehensive supervision of local governments over enterprises could effectually eliminate ill effects on energy‐saving management caused by information asymmetry under certain circumstances.
Practical implications
It is good for locating the balance of interest of game players by building a government energy saving mechanism based on principal‐agent theory. Through solving a game stable strategy, it is beneficial to seize a key point of regulation and control policies.
Originality/value
The paper succeeds in analyzing decision behaviours of government and enterprises through the basic idea of cooperative game theory so as to make actions of enterprises at all levels agree to government determined solving of energy issues.
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Low Sheau Ting, Abdul Hakim Bin Mohammed and Weng Wai Choong
This study seeks to propose the implementation strategies for energy sustainability on a Malaysian university campus.
Abstract
Purpose
This study seeks to propose the implementation strategies for energy sustainability on a Malaysian university campus.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper describes five proposed implementation strategies for Malaysian Universities to contribute to a sustainable energy future and to realise a sustainable university, namely: gaining top management commitment, raising energy awareness, providing energy education, developing energy conservation behaviour and developing a sustainable campus implementation blueprint.
Findings
Over the years, numerous global energy issues have been identified, which include fluctuation of world energy prices, uncertainty of future energy supplies and environmental degradation. All these problems are threatening global movement towards a sustainable energy future. Immediate action should be taken by everyone in order to secure a sustainable energy future for the next generation. Malaysian universities, which are composed of hundreds of building blocks equipped with massive facilities, present enormous opportunities to contribute to a sustainable energy future, through reduction of their overall energy consumption.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed implementation strategies are set in the Malaysian context. These strategies detail the crucial aspect towards an energy efficient campus especially in Malaysian universities. It is recommended in future studies to benchmark other countries in this research.
Originality/value –
The study provides an overview of the important strategies for energy sustainability on a Malaysian university campus.
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Mattias Legnér, Gustaf Leijonhufvud and Martin Tunefalk
Sweden, like other countries, has set ambitious national targets for both energy efficiency and conservation of heritage values in the built environment. However, how these…
Abstract
Purpose
Sweden, like other countries, has set ambitious national targets for both energy efficiency and conservation of heritage values in the built environment. However, how these policies are implemented on a local level and how they affect each other is not known. This study aims to argue that extensive energy-saving policies can have unintentional impacts not just on the built environment but also on conservation practice.
Design/methodology/approach
By using a longitudinal approach, the aim is to investigate the possibilities of conserving the built environment when policies for increased energy efficiency are implemented in existing urban areas. The methodology used is qualitative, applying a combination of study of public records, policy documents, interviews with public officials and ocular investigation of buildings in three areas located in two different municipalities.
Findings
The study suggests that extensive refurbishments not only have effects on the character of an area, but in extension, affect how urban planners and local authorities approach the development in the same area. Urban areas affected by extensive retrofits in the past seem to be managed in less detail, leaving existing policy measures on both energy and heritage untapped.
Research limitations/implications
This is a study concerning two Swedish municipalities. Furthermore, it is limited to one specific policy measure, energy-saving subsidies provided in the 1970s and 1980s. The generalisability of the findings may, therefore, be limited. Despite this, the findings provide an important indication of the relationship between energy-saving policies in the past and urban planning practice of existing urban areas today, as well as the importance of alignment between policy-making and implementation.
Practical implications
Policy instruments for the building stock and the practice of conservation planning have not worked well together. Due to local practice, energy subsidies provided in the 1970s and 1980s still today have a negative effect on both heritage conservation and energy efficiency in existing areas.
Social implications
There is a discrepancy between expectations and outcome of policy measures. National decision-makers overestimate the possibilities to control the development on a local level, for both energy efficiency and heritage values. By examining an innovative set of sources, acknowledging long-term effects and entanglements of policies and practice, this study contributes to a better understanding of the complexity of different values in the built environment.
Originality/value
By comparing the share of approved applications, as well as completed energy retrofits, this study demonstrates that the effects of the national energy subsidy policy differed significantly between urban areas. Areas with a high degree of approved subsidies also had a high degree of retrofits, suggesting that the policy had intended effects. In these areas, the number of retrofits were also significantly higher than the number of subsidies. This was not the case where energy subsidies were fewer, which indicates that energy retrofits are performative, meaning that they accelerate further retrofits in the same area.
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Compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals published by MCB University Press: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18;…
Abstract
Compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals published by MCB University Press: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18; Property Management Volumes 8‐18; Structural Survey Volumes 8‐18.
Compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals published by MCB University Press: Facilities Volumes 8‐17; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐17;…
Abstract
Compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals published by MCB University Press: Facilities Volumes 8‐17; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐17; Property Management Volumes 8‐17; Structural Survey Volumes 8‐17.
Index by subjects, compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18; Property Management…
Abstract
Index by subjects, compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18; Property Management Volumes 8‐18; Structural Survey Volumes 8‐18.