A Research Note on: Household Energy-Conservation Motivators: A Factor Analytic Approach

AbstractA factor analysis of reasons for taking household energy-conservation actions expressed by a statewide random sample of 424 Washington households resulted in the identification of four distinct energy-conservation motivators: 1) a social conformity factor, 2) a conservation ethic factor, 3) a personal benefit factor, and 4) an economic benefit factor. Regression analysis of the four factors and respondents’ housing and demographic characteristics reveals that although certain variables (e.g. home ownership and single-family residence) are significantly related to two of the factors, the overall amount of variation in the factors explained is quite small.