Li Jiasheng, Zeng Yinxin, Gu Zhipan, Chen Hongyao, Chen Xiao, Zou Dongjin, Liu Yudie, Deng Liyuan
School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, 314001, China.
Heliyon. 2024 Aug 27;10(17):e36995. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36995. eCollection 2024 Sep 15.
Energy saving in higher education institutions holds significant importance in the establishment of environmentally friendly and low-carbon societies, with the energy-saving behaviors of university students playing a pivotal role in the development of sustainable campuses. However, there is a clear need for customized strategies to encourage energy-saving habits among university students in areas of China with extreme weather conditions, such as hot summers and cold winters. This study offers a thorough examination of the literature regarding energy-saving behaviors among college students and presents a new theoretical framework based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A survey questionnaire is conducted at universities in regions with hot summers and cold winters across China, with the goal of identifying the main factors that influence students' intentions and actions regarding campus energy conservation. From July to August 2022, we collected 512 survey responses from different university campuses in China's hot summer-cold winter weather zone. The survey asked about subjective norms, understanding of energy conservation, and the importance of saving energy. Utilizing the Structural Equation Model (SEM), we examined how influencing factors are associated with energy conservation behaviors. Our findings indicate that (1) both the significance of energy conservation and subjective norms significantly drive energy-saving actions; (2) distinct factors impact different forms of energy-saving practices; and (3) the inclination to save energy partially mediates the relationship between comfort choices and the significance of energy conservation. This study presents a validated behavioral model tailored for regions experiencing hot summers and cold winters, offering valuable insights for college administrators in managing energy usage while also serving as a theoretical reference for establishing environmentally sustainable campuses.
高等教育机构的节能对于建设环境友好型和低碳社会具有重要意义，大学生的节能行为在可持续校园的发展中起着关键作用。然而，在中国夏季炎热、冬季寒冷等极端天气条件地区，显然需要制定针对性策略来鼓励大学生养成节能习惯。本研究全面审视了有关大学生节能行为的文献，并基于计划行为理论（TPB）提出了一个新的理论框架。在中国夏季炎热、冬季寒冷地区的高校开展了一项调查问卷，旨在确定影响学生校园节能意图和行为的主要因素。2022年7月至8月，我们从中国夏热冬冷气候区的不同大学校园收集了512份调查问卷回复。该调查询问了主观规范、对节能的理解以及节能的重要性。利用结构方程模型（SEM），我们研究了影响因素与节能行为之间的关联。我们的研究结果表明：（1）节能的重要性和主观规范均显著推动节能行动；（2）不同因素影响不同形式的节能实践；（3）节能倾向在一定程度上介导了舒适选择与节能重要性之间的关系。本研究提出了一个针对夏热冬冷地区验证有效的行为模型，为高校管理者管理能源使用提供了有价值的见解，同时也为建立环境可持续校园提供了理论参考。
