Beyond Technology: Improving Occupants' Energy Efficiency Behaviors through Social-Psychological Analysis

Improving energy efficiency behaviors requires the consideration of technology improvement and human factors. While a growing number of recent studies have focused on the importance of environmental behaviors, little attention has been paid to a comprehensive set of social-psychological factors associated with occupants’ energy conservation and demand response behaviors.  Moreover, appliances and facilities are often shared among coworkers, which inhibit the development of a sense of individual responsibility. Gaining a deeper understanding of the social-psychological factors influencing energy efficiency behaviors in both public or residential buildings is especially relevant for policy and academic conversations about mitigating global climate change.