• Energy Research
• Frontiers in Energy Research close

Intensive energy consumption has become a norm among the younger generation. Energy consumption can be reduced when consumers develop environmental values, beliefs, and norms to build pro-environmental behaviours. The current study’s objective is to expose the intention and behaviour to minimise energy consumption among young Malaysian residents using the value-belief-norm (VBN) framework. Data collection was performed using social media in a cross-sectional manner. The collected data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and necessary condition analysis (NCA). Data analysis confirmed the application of VBN framework on the energy conservation behaviours among Malaysian youth. Personal biospheric and altruistic values significantly saturated the new environmental paradigm that harnessed the awareness of consequences and ascription of responsibility to engage in pro-environmental behaviours. The personal norms significantly influenced the energy conservation intention, leading to energy conservation behaviours. The NCA results suggest that the ascription of responsibility, biospheric and altruistic values are the most significant necessary conditions for promoting energy conservation behaviours. The policy and practical implications have proposed that the collaborative efforts are required to address the issue of wasteful energy consumption at a personal level, promote energy-efficient household devices, and increase monetary nudges to reward energy conservation behaviours. The study limitations and future research openings are also discussed in this paper.

Energy conservation is a necessary form of green behaviour, as energy production and consumption gravely affect the climate. The current study aimed to explore energy conservation behaviour among Chinese households based on the value-belief-norm framework. This study used a cross-sectional design and collected quantitative data from 1671 respondents through an online survey. The hybrid analysis techniques of partial least squares structural equation modelling and artificial neural network analysis were used to analyse the data. Findings revealed that biospheric values have a positive and significant effect on pro-environmental beliefs, awareness of consequences, and ascription of responsibility, which ultimately explains 46.3% of the change in personal norms and 42.6% of the change in green trust. The results shed light on the significant positive impact of green trust and personal norms on the energy conservation intention. Green trust and personal norms can elucidate 27.3% of the change in energy conservation intention. The energy conservation intention (39.1%) explains the energy conservation behaviour. The results of ANN analysis revealed energy conservation intention, personal norms, green trust, and awareness of consequences as the four most significant contributors to the formation of energy conservation behaviour. The current study extended the VNB model with the green trust. It offered empirical evidence on the effects of pro-environmental belief, awareness of consequences, and ascription of responsibility concerning energy conservation intention. Energy policies should thus concentrate on addressing energy conservation behaviour, promoting energy-efficient household appliances, and rewarding energy conservation by lowering energy prices for low-energy users.

A country’s energy usage can depict the development of its economy. Excessive energy consumption generates carbon emissions that degrade the climate and present challenges for sustainable global development. China is achieving economic development with excessive energy consumption and excessive carbon emissions, damaging the climate. As more energy is consumed at workplaces than in households and other buildings, energy conservation behaviors at workplaces can help mitigate environmental issues. In this study, we explore energy conservation behaviors in the workplace using the value-belief-norm (VBN) theory that has been extended and tested with survey data collected from China. Online survey-based data were collected from a total of 1,061 respondents and analyzed with partial least square regression structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results of our analysis indicate that biospheric values significantly predict pro-environment beliefs, awareness of consequences, and ascription of responsibility. Moreover, pro-environment beliefs positively affect awareness of consequences, and awareness of consequences positively affects the ascription of responsibility. Findings further revealed that pro-environment beliefs, awareness of consequences, an ascription of responsibility, and social norms positively affect personal norms. Furthermore, social and personal norms lead to intentions to engage in energy conservation behavior, which influences energy conservation behavior in the workplace. The current study contributes to our knowledge and understanding about workplace energy conservation behaviors by constructing biospheric values that lead to developing the necessary beliefs and norms to activate energy conservation behaviors. Policy and managerial implications are reported, which involve inculcating the necessary values and beliefs that generate norms that lead to pro-climate behavior.