My place to our place

Abstract

The residential energy sector plays as one of the cost-effective mitigation options to an increasing threat of climate change. However, current policies put heavy emphasis on the energy efficiency of buildings and overlook occupants' energy behaviors. The objective of this research is to examine how energy behaviors within occupants' place of living differ by housing tenure, and how differences within behaviors of everyday life transfer to the actual electricity consumption. This research uses a rich dataset consisting of 5,565 U.S. residents. To address heterogeneity across types of housing tenure, a Propensity Score Matching (PSM) approach was conducted. Results suggest that owner-occupied residences present a higher level of energy-saving behavior not only by investing in energy-efficient appliances but also more likely to be engaged in habitual-related conservation behaviors. While no significant difference in total electricity consumption is found, in heating end-use, homeowners' energy behaviors have achieved economic and environmental significance. This research could recommend a policy adjustment, by taking account differences in behaviors and consumptions presented between homeowners and renters, which is more elaborated at the end.