Toward understanding residential water conservation ... · residential water conservation behaviors...
27
Toward an understanding of residential water conservation behaviors on Oahu Daniele Spirandelli 1,4 , Michael Roberts 2,3,4 , Kim Burnett 3 , Christopher Wada 3 , Theresa Dean 1 1 Department of Urban and Regional Planning 2 Department of Economics 3 University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization 4 Sea Grant College Program University of Hawaii-Manoa
Transcript of Toward understanding residential water conservation ... · residential water conservation behaviors...
Toward an understanding of residential water conservation
behaviors on OahuDaniele Spirandelli1,4, Michael Roberts2,3,4,
Kim Burnett3, Christopher Wada3, Theresa Dean1
1Department of Urban and Regional Planning2Department of Economics
3University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization4Sea Grant College ProgramUniversity of Hawaii-Manoa
Overview
• Residential water consumption
• Oahu survey• Preliminary results• Next steps
USGS Water Use data, National Water Information System 2010
U.S. Domestic Water Consumption by State
157 gal/d
USGS Water Use data, National Water Information System 2010
U.S. Domestic Water Consumption by Major Urban Counties
Source: Inskeep and Attari, 2012
Typical residential water use
Indoor water use Outdoor water use
2.5 ga./minute
<27 – 54 ga./ load
3-20 ga./load
<1.28 - 1.6 ga./ load
> 100 ga. /day
Price
• Uniform pricing• Volumetric pricing• Block-rate pricing
Non-price
• Efficiency technologies• Education campaign• Rebates• Rationing
Boyer et al. 2014; Schultz, P. Wesley, et al. 2014; Pullinger et al. 2013; Fielding et al. 2012; House-Peters and Chang, 2011; Grafton et al. 2011; Mansur & Olmstead, 2007; Inman and Jeffrey, 2006; Zhang and Brown 2005; Campbell et al., 2004; Arbues et al. 2003.
Other factors
• Land use, built environment• Climate• Socio-demographics• Environmental attitudes & values (Ajzen, 1991)• Water use habits (Shove, 2004)
Factors associated with household water consumption
Objectives
• Explore household water use behaviors, habits, and personal efforts toward water conservation
• Examine motivations & public attitudes• Explore what factors are associated with
household water consumption patterns• Awareness of conservation programs
Approach
• On-line survey– Hawai`i Panel administered by Ward Research, Inc.
• Link to Honolulu Board of Water Supply water use data
1. [Q1]What type of residence do you live in?
Survey respondents, n=406
13
20
47
70
256
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Two Family House
Townhouse
Single Family (5+)
Apartment
Single Family (1-4)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-59 60+
Age
05
10152025303540
< highschool
High school Somecollege
Bachelor's Graduate /professional
Education
05
1015202530354045
1 2 3-4 5-9 10+
Household size
05
1015202530354045
< $25k $25k-$50k
$50k -$99.99k
$100k -$149.99k
> $150k
Household Income
Own76%
Rent24%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100D
ishw
ashe
r
Low
Flo
w T
oile
t
Air
Con
diti
oner
Clot
hes
Was
her
atle
ast
1 In
door
wat
er
devi
se
Pool
Out
door
wat
erin
g sy
stem
Gar
den
Law
n
atle
ast
1 ou
tdoo
r ch
arac
teri
stic
Preliminary Results%
of r
espo
nden
ts
Yes69%
No31%
Yes90%
No10%
Energy Star or WaterSense certified?
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
ModelFeatures
CustomerReviews
WaterEfficiency
Price RebateOffered
1 - Not at all important 5 - Extremely important
Recently bought?
365 of households have a dishwasher, clothes washer or both
Important features
1 unit34%
2 units46%
3 units20%
Number of A/C units per household
245 (60%) households have at least 1 A/C unit
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Window A/C Split A/C Central A/C Don't know
Coun
t
Type of A/C system
Yes64%
No36%
Recently purchased (< 10 yrs)
1
2
3
4
5
ModelFeatures
CustomerReviews
Efficiency Price RebateOffered
1 - Not at all important 5 - Extremely important
Important features
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
By gardenhose
Rely onrain
Untimedirrigation
Timedirrigation
How do you prefer to water?n=306
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
What time of day do you water?n=195
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Rainwaterbarrel or tank
Catchmentsystem
No
Do you use a grey water system?n=111
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Less thanonce a week
Once aweek
Every otherday
Daily
How often do you water?n=195
1
2
3
4
5
aesthetics maintenance foodsupplement
outdoorentertainment
reduce waterbill
conserve water
1 - Not at all important 5 - Extremely important
How important are the following factors influencing your choice in outdoor garden/landscape?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1 2 3 4
% o
f res
pond
ents
Low Effort High Effort
Water Conservation - personal effort
Turn off water brushing teeth Tap runs for cool water
Plants with low water needs wash car with hose
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Toilet Rebate Halawa Xeriscape Mayors Challenge Rain barrel
% o
f res
pond
ents
Participated in HBWS water conservation programs?
“Child participated in Olelo Youth Xchange video contest … for xeriscape and water conservation.”
“Didn't know about these programs.”
Image by Seri Nakamura, 2nd place winner of HBWS 2012 Water Conservation Poster Contest
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Wat
er b
ill
Cons
erve
wat
er
Sew
er b
ill
Elec
tric
bill
Do
not
limit
Oth
er
% o
f res
pond
ents
Do you limit how much water you use for any of these reasons?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Not At All Concerned Neutral/ Not Sure Slightly Concerned ModeratelyConcerned
Extremely Concerned
Perc
ent
How concerned are you about Hawaii's future water supply?
“Afraid of having a water drought like California.”
“Just try to conserve water for conservation overall.”
“Demonstrate that it is the commercial and tourism use of water that causes waste-not residential.”
“We're centrally metered for the condo, but I try to observe water conservation practices.”
“I grew up in the Bay Area with water rationing.”
Summary
• Motivated by water efficiency– Price of water
• Motivated by conservation values– Future of water; drought
• Disconnect between values & behaviors?• Low participation in HBWS conservation
programs
Next steps…
– Examine differences based on demographics, housing characteristics, location, land tenure
– Link to Water billing data• Monthly water consumption patterns• Examine associations between behavioral and attitude
variables with water use
Images from Honolulu Board of Water Supply, City & County of Honolulu TOD Plan, and Giambelluca et al. 2011.
