Factors influencing the Energy Consumption Behavior Pattern among the Indian Higher Education Institution Students

Towards the development of a sustainable campus of higher education institutions, energy consumption behavior of students is one of the several matters that require attention. Insights in to the energy consumption behavior of students will help to chalk out a good strategy for energy management. The purpose of this study is to assess energy consumption behavior among Indian higher education institutions students. This study has an objective to determine the factors which influence the energy consumption behaviors of students. The 'energy culture' framework from the literature is used in the study for arriving at the energy consumption behavior pattern of the students. Further the study also explores the role that personality of the student plays in exhibiting a sustainable energy consumption behavior. A self-administrated survey was carried out involving 75 respondents at Amrita University. The students were assessed on Building Regulation, Environmental Concern, Social Aspiration and Comfort along with Education, Activities, Social Marketing and Personality variables of Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Agreeableness and Emotional stability. The data was analyzed using multiple regression and the results revealed that the independent variables Education, Activities, Social Marketing and Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Emotional stability were influencing the dependent variables of Building Regulation, Environmental Concern, Social Aspiration and Comfort. Social marketing and Education were strongly and significantly related to the all the dependent variables. The personality variables of Conscientiousness, Extraversion also was found to be strongly and significantly related to Environmental Concern, Social Aspiration and Comfort. This study highlights the need for understanding social marketing, education and personality as an important potential variable for promoting energy efficient consumption behavior among students. The present study contributes to an understanding of the factors influencing the Energy Consumption Behavior Pattern and thus work attempts to make a small contribution to theory and research in Energy Consumption.