The Status of Household Electricity Use Behaviour Research in South Africa between 2000 and 2022
Unsustainable use of electricity has severe implications on the environment and human well-being. With an estimated consumption of about 20% of total global electricity demand, the household sector is a key player in efforts for crafting interventions for reducing electricity consumption. Despite in...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/23/9018 |
| _version_ | 1797463306578952192 |
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| author | Uzziah Mutumbi Gladman Thondhlana Sheunesu Ruwanza |
| author_facet | Uzziah Mutumbi Gladman Thondhlana Sheunesu Ruwanza |
| author_sort | Uzziah Mutumbi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Unsustainable use of electricity has severe implications on the environment and human well-being. With an estimated consumption of about 20% of total global electricity demand, the household sector is a key player in efforts for crafting interventions for reducing electricity consumption. Despite increasing calls for behavioural solutions to electricity conservation at the household level, more attention has been paid to technical than behavioural interventions. Yet a deeper understanding of electricity use behaviour is needed to design interventions and engender integration of behavioural interventions into demand-side management and decision making. Although South Africa is energy insecure and a major greenhouse gas emitter, less attention has been paid to household electricity use using behavioural lenses. Using a scoping review approach, this study inductively reviewed publications to examine the state of research on household electricity use in South Africa, focussing on (1) research trends and contexts, (2) conceptual focus, (3) proposed interventions for reducing electricity consumption and (4) future research needs. Very few publications considered reported and actual electricity use behaviour. Most publications (65%) paid attention to technical dimensions for reducing household electricity consumption such as economic nudges and technical retrofits, rather than behavioural strategies. Of the publications that focussed on behaviour, very few explicitly examined reported electricity use behaviour. Most publications did not consider the role of partnerships in designing interventions for reducing electricity consumption but rather employed individualistic perspectives. Overall, the results suggest that calls for behaviour change research have not been fully heeded. More studies on electricity use behaviour in different contexts, including across an income heterogeneity gradient, and the role of context dependent collective settings in drafting interventions, are required to better inform pathways to sustainable electricity use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:48:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de23cc51a1e34b2f858f95d9de1155d3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:48:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-de23cc51a1e34b2f858f95d9de1155d32023-11-24T10:54:00ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-11-011523901810.3390/en15239018The Status of Household Electricity Use Behaviour Research in South Africa between 2000 and 2022Uzziah Mutumbi0Gladman Thondhlana1Sheunesu Ruwanza2Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South AfricaDepartment of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South AfricaDepartment of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South AfricaUnsustainable use of electricity has severe implications on the environment and human well-being. With an estimated consumption of about 20% of total global electricity demand, the household sector is a key player in efforts for crafting interventions for reducing electricity consumption. Despite increasing calls for behavioural solutions to electricity conservation at the household level, more attention has been paid to technical than behavioural interventions. Yet a deeper understanding of electricity use behaviour is needed to design interventions and engender integration of behavioural interventions into demand-side management and decision making. Although South Africa is energy insecure and a major greenhouse gas emitter, less attention has been paid to household electricity use using behavioural lenses. Using a scoping review approach, this study inductively reviewed publications to examine the state of research on household electricity use in South Africa, focussing on (1) research trends and contexts, (2) conceptual focus, (3) proposed interventions for reducing electricity consumption and (4) future research needs. Very few publications considered reported and actual electricity use behaviour. Most publications (65%) paid attention to technical dimensions for reducing household electricity consumption such as economic nudges and technical retrofits, rather than behavioural strategies. Of the publications that focussed on behaviour, very few explicitly examined reported electricity use behaviour. Most publications did not consider the role of partnerships in designing interventions for reducing electricity consumption but rather employed individualistic perspectives. Overall, the results suggest that calls for behaviour change research have not been fully heeded. More studies on electricity use behaviour in different contexts, including across an income heterogeneity gradient, and the role of context dependent collective settings in drafting interventions, are required to better inform pathways to sustainable electricity use.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/23/9018electricity usehouseholdsbehavioural interventionssustainability |
| spellingShingle | Uzziah Mutumbi Gladman Thondhlana Sheunesu Ruwanza The Status of Household Electricity Use Behaviour Research in South Africa between 2000 and 2022 Energies electricity use households behavioural interventions sustainability |
| title | The Status of Household Electricity Use Behaviour Research in South Africa between 2000 and 2022 |
| title_full | The Status of Household Electricity Use Behaviour Research in South Africa between 2000 and 2022 |
| title_fullStr | The Status of Household Electricity Use Behaviour Research in South Africa between 2000 and 2022 |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Status of Household Electricity Use Behaviour Research in South Africa between 2000 and 2022 |
| title_short | The Status of Household Electricity Use Behaviour Research in South Africa between 2000 and 2022 |
| title_sort | status of household electricity use behaviour research in south africa between 2000 and 2022 |
| topic | electricity use households behavioural interventions sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/23/9018 |
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