Attitude–behaviour gap in energy issues: Case study of three different Finnish residential areas

To mitigate climate change technical advances must be accompanied by greater ecological commitment from consumers, i.e. households. This study aims to determine whether there are differences in energy attitudes and energy behaviour between residents living in three different types of residential districts. To gain an understanding of attitudes, the study investigated the participants' concerns about climate change, their position on energy issues and their perceptions of their own energy behaviour. To gain an understanding of actual energy behaviour the study investigated the participants' carbon footprints. The results indicate that there is a gap between people's energy attitudes and their actual energy behaviour. There seems to be a discernible ‘ecologisation’, a greening of attitudes, in Finnish society, but actual energy behaviour is changing more slowly. People know how to reduce their energy use but are e.g. too comfort-loving or indifferent to make any changes to their energy use. Due to the attitudes are not becoming more environment friendly and no environmental action is happening. Regarding further research this gap need to be investigated specifically and filled because it could otherwise prove a significant stumbling block to achieving the desired rate of progress towards the country's environmental goals.

► To mitigate climate change greater ecological commitment from basic consumers is needed.
► To gain an understanding of attitudes, this study investigated the participants' concerns about climate change, their position on energy issues and their perceptions of their own energy behaviour.
► To gain an understanding of actual energy behaviour the study investigated the participants' carbon footprints.
► The results indicate that there is a gap between people's energy attitudes and their actual energy behaviour.
► Regarding further research this gap needs to be investigated specifically.