Energy saving at work: Understanding the roles of normative values and perceived benefits and costs in single-person and shared offices in the United States. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tverskoi, Denis; Xu, Xiaojing; Nelson, Hannah; Menassa, Carol; Gavrilets, Sergey; Chen, Chien-fei
• Is Part Of: Energy research & social science. Volume 79(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Energy-saving behaviors -- Social norms -- Organizational support -- Building design -- Decision-making -- Occupant behavior; Power resources -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102173
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-6296

Abstract

Abstract: Developing and maintaining efficient energy-saving behaviors in the workplace is an important factor in reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Building on integrated theories, including a recently developed theoretical approach to studying the dynamics of social norms and decision-making, the theory of planned behavior, the norm activation model, and the motivation-opportunity-ability model, this study analyzes the influence of normative values, office design, and perceived benefits and costs on energy-saving behaviors in different office settings. Based on a survey from 555 U.S. employees, this study found that occupants in single-person offices were influenced by a combination of descriptive, injunctive, and personal norms, while those in shared offices tended to align their actions with injunctive norms and ascription of responsibility. Descriptive norms had a stronger effect on energy-saving behaviors in single-person offices than in shared offices. Ascription of responsibility, however, had a stronger effect on energy-saving behaviors in shared offices. The perceived ease of access to building control features significantly influenced energy-saving behaviors of shared-office occupants only. Time availability had no significant effect on energy-saving behaviors of occupants in both single-person and shared offices. This study provides policy recommendations for building architects, engineers, managers, and policymakers to enhance energy-saving behaviors.