An investigation into domestic energy consumption behaviour and public awareness of renewable energy in Qatar
- Submitting institution
-
Nottingham Trent University
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- 7 - 700680
- Type
- D - Journal article
- DOI
-
10.1016/j.scs.2018.06.024
- Title of journal
- Sustainable Cities and Society
- Article number
- -
- First page
- 639
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- -
- ISSN
- 2210-6707
- Open access status
- Compliant
- Month of publication
- June
- Year of publication
- 2018
- URL
-
-
- Supplementary information
-
-
- Request cross-referral to
- -
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
-
2
- Research group(s)
-
D - Product Innovation Centre
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- This paper presents novel research into energy consumption in Qatar, which has the highest energy consumption per capita in the world. It documents the attitudes and behaviour of citizens of a country and culture that is currently unexplored in the literature. Findings from a survey (n=410) and 11 semi-structured interviews of energy experts from industry and academia identified the potential for national policy changes and adoption of sustainable forms of energy generation.
Qatar is unique geographically, culturally and politically due to the impact of free, state funded utilities, which results in a lack of extrinsic motivation for thrifty consumption amongst the population. This research offers a different perspective to the existing literature on energy efficiency and behaviour change in the Europe and the US, where consumer behaviour is extrinsically motivated through cost, The research provides insights into Qataris’ perceptions, behaviours and awareness of domestic energy consumption, proposing that awareness should be promoted through wide reaching educational strategies.
While this work is unique in that it is specific to Qatar it is relevant to neighbouring oil rich nations in respect to sustainable forms of energy production. The conclusions highlight a need for education to address unsustainable behaviour, through design for behaviour change strategies that foster intrinsic motivation.
The paper is published in a peer reviewed journal and documents a mixed methods approach. Watkins’ contribution to the paper increased its rigor and clarity by strengthening the literature review, framing the research and analysis and reporting the findings particularly in respect to the educational recommendations, building on his previous publications on education for sustainability.
- Author contribution statement
- -
- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -