Renewable Energy Cooperatives as a Stimulating Factor in Household Energy Savings

Little is known about how renewable energy cooperatives (REScoops) try to influence energy conservation among households and the resulting impact. In this article the main research question is: What is the predictive value of renewable energy cooperatives on intention to save energy, engagement in e...

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Main Authors: Thomas Hoppe, Frans H. J. M. Coenen, Maria T. Bekendam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-03-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/7/1188
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author Thomas Hoppe
Frans H. J. M. Coenen
Maria T. Bekendam
author_facet Thomas Hoppe
Frans H. J. M. Coenen
Maria T. Bekendam
author_sort Thomas Hoppe
collection DOAJ
description Little is known about how renewable energy cooperatives (REScoops) try to influence energy conservation among households and the resulting impact. In this article the main research question is: What is the predictive value of renewable energy cooperatives on intention to save energy, engagement in energy-saving actions, and self-reported energy conservation by households? A survey was conducted to answer this question. Data analysis involved multivariate and binary logistic regression on data from two cooperatives: Ecopower (Belgium; N = 1000) and Enercoop (France; N = 8290). Results show that in addition to psychological and socio-demographic variables, REScoop items modestly contribute to the explained variation in engagement in energy-saving actions and reported energy conservation. At Enercoop 18.2% of the respondents indicated that their cooperative contributed to household energy savings; for Ecopower this figure was 36.9%. Moreover, at Enercoop, 38.7% of the respondents reported consuming less energy since obtaining cooperative membership; at Ecopower this was 64.7%. The article concludes with suggestions for future research.
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spelling doaj.art-d509cabed44e4278a2855b16b6d91e012022-12-22T04:21:00ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732019-03-01127118810.3390/en12071188en12071188Renewable Energy Cooperatives as a Stimulating Factor in Household Energy SavingsThomas Hoppe0Frans H. J. M. Coenen1Maria T. Bekendam2Organisation and Governance (OG), Department of Multi-Actor Systems (MAS), Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM), Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 5, 2628 BX Delft, The NetherlandsDepartment of Technology and Governance for Sustainability (CSTM), Institute for Innovation and Governance Studies (IGS), Faculty of Behavioral, Management and Social Studies (BMS), University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The NetherlandsCenter of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioural Science (TSB), Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, 5037AB Tilburg, The NetherlandsLittle is known about how renewable energy cooperatives (REScoops) try to influence energy conservation among households and the resulting impact. In this article the main research question is: What is the predictive value of renewable energy cooperatives on intention to save energy, engagement in energy-saving actions, and self-reported energy conservation by households? A survey was conducted to answer this question. Data analysis involved multivariate and binary logistic regression on data from two cooperatives: Ecopower (Belgium; N = 1000) and Enercoop (France; N = 8290). Results show that in addition to psychological and socio-demographic variables, REScoop items modestly contribute to the explained variation in engagement in energy-saving actions and reported energy conservation. At Enercoop 18.2% of the respondents indicated that their cooperative contributed to household energy savings; for Ecopower this figure was 36.9%. Moreover, at Enercoop, 38.7% of the respondents reported consuming less energy since obtaining cooperative membership; at Ecopower this was 64.7%. The article concludes with suggestions for future research.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/7/1188renewable energy cooperativegrassroots initiativecommunity energyenergy efficiencyenergy conservationenergy consumption behaviorenergy savings
spellingShingle Thomas Hoppe
Frans H. J. M. Coenen
Maria T. Bekendam
Renewable Energy Cooperatives as a Stimulating Factor in Household Energy Savings
Energies
renewable energy cooperative
grassroots initiative
community energy
energy efficiency
energy conservation
energy consumption behavior
energy savings
title Renewable Energy Cooperatives as a Stimulating Factor in Household Energy Savings
title_full Renewable Energy Cooperatives as a Stimulating Factor in Household Energy Savings
title_fullStr Renewable Energy Cooperatives as a Stimulating Factor in Household Energy Savings
title_full_unstemmed Renewable Energy Cooperatives as a Stimulating Factor in Household Energy Savings
title_short Renewable Energy Cooperatives as a Stimulating Factor in Household Energy Savings
title_sort renewable energy cooperatives as a stimulating factor in household energy savings
topic renewable energy cooperative
grassroots initiative
community energy
energy efficiency
energy conservation
energy consumption behavior
energy savings
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/7/1188
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