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Household Environmental Attitudes and Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Evidence from Spanish Data

Author

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  • Xavier Labandeira
  • Ana Ramos

    (Rede (Universidade de Vigo) and Economics for Energy)

Abstract

Buildings are an essential driver of current and future energy consumption and associated emissions with large energy-efficiency (EE) improvement potentials in both emerging and developed countries. Yet, especially in this sector, there are several and persistent barriers that prevent the attainment of EE gains. With a revealed-preferences approach from a 2008 national representative survey of Spanish households, we analyze some determinants of EE investment and behavior. In particular, our discrete-choice logit model empirically determines whether Spanish households that indicated to be concerned with the environment, or show eco-friendly practices, are more likely to invest in EE and to incorporate EE matters into their daily consumption decisions. Results suggest that pro-environmental attitudes indeed have positive effects on energy consumption habits and low-cost EE investments. Such findings, together with other information provided by the paper, may be useful for the design and implementation of future EE policies in this area.

Suggested Citation

  • Xavier Labandeira & Ana Ramos, 2012. "Household Environmental Attitudes and Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Evidence from Spanish Data," Working Papers fa08-2012, Economics for Energy.
    • Handle: RePEc:efe:wpaper:fa08-2012
    as

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Barriers; environment; concern; policies; investment; behavior;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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