Social dynamics of energy consumption

Consumers are at the heart of the energy system. The changing consumption patterns embodied in routine purchases significantly influence the extent of climate change impacts. Yet, their prominence in the energy demand and supply paradigm lends them the potential to also act as agents of change in accelerating energy transitions. Collectively, the mitigation actions associated with systemic changes in consumer behaviour and lifestyles, service provisions and associated socio-technical transitions that modify demand for goods and services, comprise of the class of demand-side solutions. The research presented in this thesis identifies entry points for further the understanding of demand-side factors interact with consumption levels and their scope for mitigating climate change. Specifically, I investigate social status, status perception and social trust as drivers of greenhouse gas emissions and, inversely, as contributors to climate solutions. My analysis focuses on the developing country case of India, that is expected to significantly contribute to the emissions pathway as it grows and urbanises. I adopt a combination of theoretical and empirical approaches, using secondary and primary household data to determine the direction and significance of the factors with energy demand. I find status perception to be highly significant in driving energy-intensive consumption in terms of car and appliances ownership amongst urban dwellers. Further, through the results I highlight the relevance contextual information such as daily routines, energy use devices and modes of transport owned and used by households, in determining how status is associated with consumption-intensive and -reducing behaviours. Secondly, I also find social trust to play a key role in connecting social elements of the governance system and effective climate policies. The thesis thus highlights the policy relevance of the research insights in terms of targeting high status individuals to test low-carbon solutions and increasing the resolution on status and energy consumption linkages. Understanding the interaction between difference demand-side factors, contexts and consumption behaviours is crucial to long-term sustainability of even the technology-driven mitigation solutions, in emerging economies and especially in industrialized countries.

Author dc:creator

• Ramakrishnan, Anjali

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Creutzig, Felix

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.14279/depositonce-21140

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:depositonce.tu-berlin.de:11303/22339