Influences of Domestic Communication on Energy Conservation Behavior

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to reveal the influences of domestic communication on energy conservation behavior in daily life. The Ministry of the Environment, Japan implemented the“ Uchi-Eco-Shindan”Project in 2011, which provides households with environmental consulting services. In the present study, questionnaire surveys including questions about the situation of domestic communication (e.g. whether they talk about home-appliance replacement for energy conservation with their family members after “Uchi-EcoShindan”) are conducted with 613 households that were provided with “Uchi-Eco-Shindan.” The available data (254 out of 613 households) is analyzed using statistical methods. The analysis finds the possibility that households’electricity consumption after “Uchi-Eco-Shindan” is influenced by the two types of domestic communication, that is, to talk about replacement of appliances to reduce electricity consumption and to warn each other about energy conservation behavior. The present study suggests that domestic communication promotes energy conservation behavior in daily life, and concludes that more detailed analysis is necessary in the future.