Household attitudes and behaviours in relation to environmentally sustainable resource use

Summary

There is growing recognition internationally and within Australia of the need to reduce carbon emissions and implement sustainable development principles, and to establish policy to achieve environmental sustainability. This study seeks to enhance understanding of how households think about and act on the issues of waste, water and energy use and conservation, and of how positive change in household behaviour in these areas can be effected.


Project Number: 20550
Research Theme: Urban_planning_and_development
Project Leader: Fielding, Kelly
Funding Year: 2008
Research Centre: Queensland

Research and Policy Bulletin

Research & Policy Bulletin

Issue 140: Sustainability decisions in Australian households

Households report that they have made significant changes to water and energy use over the past three years. Householders support strategies that encourage voluntary change brought about by information, incentives and services rather than through pricing or tax mechanisms.

Download nowDownload the PDF
258 KB PDF Document

Description

This research has four main aims:

  1. Understand householder waste, water, and energy attitudes and practices.
  2. Understand changes in these attitudes and practices over time and the drivers of change.
  3. Identify and assess strategies for effecting positive changes in household waste/water/energy.
  4. Understand the influence of socio-economic status, household tenure and household type on these issues.

Drawing on a well-established framework (theory of planned behaviour) to measure attitudinal and behaviour variables, the study will integrate a psycho-social understanding of household environmental decisions with environmental and housing policy perspectives to provide policy-makers with information about whatwhy they believe and act in that way and how attitudes and practices can be changed. It will also provide insight on the way these issues vary across different groups in Australian society. Australian households believe and do in relation to waste/water/energy, why they believe and act in that way and how  attitudes and practices can be changed. It will also provide insight on the way these issues vary across different groups in Australian society.

More Information

Download now Positioning Paper: No. 121: Environmental sustainability in residential housing: understanding attitudes and behaviour towards waste, water, and energy consumption and conservation among Australian households
308 KB PDF Document

Download now Final Report: No. 152: Environmental sustainability: understanding the attitudes and behaviour of Australian households
1 MB PDF Document

Download now Research and Policy Bulletin: Issue 140: Sustainability decisions in Australian households
258 KB PDF Document

Icon: Printer  Printer friendly version        Icon: Envelopes  Email to a friend        Icon: Small book  Send feedback