Energy Practice Clusters of Virginia Limited-Resource Households

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify Virginia limited-resource households’ current energy cost burdens and energy saving efforts. There were five research objectives related to this limited-resource sample: (1) To examine energy cost burdens and current energy saving efforts; (2) to group households based on their perceived energy cost burdens and current energy saving efforts; (3) to identify demographic and housing characteristics; (4) to examine changes in energy saving efforts; and (5) to investigate their interests in further energy saving information. In 2005, a questionnaire survey was conducted with limited-resource households in Virginia and 941 usable responses were collected. Based on their perceived energy cost burdens and current energy saving efforts, the respondents were clustered into four different Energy Clusters: Energy-Conscious, Motivated, Achieved, and Help-Needed. Households in different clusters showed distinctive demographic and housing characteristics (household income, presence of children, if headed by a single-adult, tenure and home structure type, and residential location), as well as different levels of changes in their energy saving efforts over the last five years and interest in further energy saving information. Findings indicated that having a large energy cost burden was not necessarily related to substantial energy saving efforts or interest in more information on how to save energy.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hyun-Jeong Lee

Hym-Jeong Lee is Assistant Professor and Extension Housing Specialist, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

JoAnn M. Emmel

JoAnn M. Emmel is Associate Professor, Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA.