Determinants of energy conservation behaviour in small hospitality firms: application of the extended value belief norm theory

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the energy conservation behaviour of owners and managers of small hospitality firms by incorporating social norms into an extended Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) model. In addition, the study examines the mediating effects of causal chain of the VBN model in the context of energy conservation behaviour. The world faces serious environmental challenges such as loss of biodiversity, pollution, depletion of natural resources and global warming. One of the causes of these environmental challenges is the production and consumption of energy by households and firms. The hospitality sector uses a significant amount of energy in its operation leading to negative environmental impacts. Reducing energy use will improve environmental and financial sustainability of hospitality firms. Energy conservation behaviour is one of the significant ways to reduce energy consumption.  The study adopts the survey method for data collection and the respondents are conveniently sampled. The Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling is used for data analysis. Based on a dataset of 360 respondents, the study finds that the extended VBM model that includes social norms is applicable in explaining the energy conservation behaviour of owners/managers of small hospitality firms. The mediating effects of the causal chain of the VBN model are significant. The theoretical implication is the applicability of an extended VBN model that includes social norms to predict energy conservation behaviour. Recommendations on how to improve energy conservation behaviour include improving the level of awareness of ecological problems caused by energy consumption. The study aims to investigate the energy conservation behaviour of owners and managers of small hospitality firms by incorporating social norms into an extended Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) model. In addition, the study examines the mediating effects of causal chain of the VBN model in the context of energy conservation behaviour. The world faces serious environmental challenges such as loss of biodiversity, pollution, depletion of natural resources and global warming. One of the causes of these environmental challenges is the production and consumption of energy by households and firms. The hospitality sector uses a significant amount of energy in its operation leading to negative environmental impacts. Reducing energy use will improve environmental and financial sustainability of hospitality firms. Energy conservation behaviour is one of the significant ways to reduce energy consumption.  The study adopts the survey method for data collection and the respondents are conveniently sampled. The Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling is used for data analysis. Based on a dataset of 360 respondents, the study finds that the extended VBM model that includes social norms is applicable in explaining the energy conservation behaviour of owners/managers of small hospitality firms. The mediating effects of the causal chain of the VBN model are significant. The theoretical implication is the applicability of an extended VBN model that includes social norms to predict energy conservation behaviour. Recommendations on how to improve energy conservation behaviour include improving the level of awareness of ecological problems caused by energy consumption.

Keywords: {'name': 'Energy conservation behaviour, Value belief norm theory, Hospitality firms, Social norms, South Africa'}

Authors & affiliations

Olawale Fatoki
Affiliation not supplied

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14407-2

Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behaviour. Prentice-Hall.

DOI: 10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T

DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2019.098956

DOI: 10.3390/su14148239

DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/abc64f

DOI: 10.1016/j.procs.2019.09.108

DOI: 10.1016/j.tej.2020.106820

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.02.033

DOI: 10.1108/APJML-09-2015-0138

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17062019

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2015.08.004

Department of Labour. (2016). Sectorial determination 14: Hospitality sector, South Africa. Department of Labour. Available at http://www.labour.gov.za/DOL/legislation/sectoral…/sectoral-determination-14-hospitality (Accessed: March 6, 2021)

Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. (2021). Coal. https://www.energy.gov.za/files/coal_frame.html (Accessed: March 6, 2021).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.04.002

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101688

DOI: 10.1080/00958964.1978.10801875

European Environmental Agency. (2021). Environmental impact of energy. https://www.eea.europa.eu/help/glossary/eea-glossary/environmental-impact-of-energy (Accessed: March 9, 2022).

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.04.017

DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2019.106338

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3398141

DOI: 10.3390/su131910800

DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2013.05.014

DOI: 10.3390/su11123237

Government Gazette. (2019). Revised schedule 1 of the national definition of small enterprise in South Africa. https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201903/423041gon399.pdf (Accessed: March 6, 2021).

DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2018.1526294

DOI: 10.1080/10941665.2020.1774784

DOI: 10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203

DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2014.09.014

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.03.003

DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2017.1377210

DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2016.06.018

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.06.006

DOI: 10.3390/buildings12070941

DOI: 10.3390/su10051384

DOI: 10.17159/2413-3051/2017/v28i1a1498

DOI: 10.3389/fenrg.2022.940595

McKinsey. (2020). How South African SMEs can survive and thrive post-COVID-19. Available online: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/middle-east-and-africa/how-south-african-smes-can-survive-and-thrive-post-covid-19 (Accessed: March 6, 2022).

DOI: 10.3390/en12224280

DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/730/1/012026

DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3675-3

DOI: 10.2307/3033965

Statista. (2021). Production-based carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Africa in 2021, by country. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1268395/production-based-co2-emissions-in-africa-by-country/ (Accessed: March 6, 2021).

DOI: 10.1177/0013916593255002

Stern, P. C., Dietz, T., Abel, T., Guagnano, G. A., & Kalof, L. (1999). A value-belief-norm theory of support for social movements: The case of environmentalism. Human Ecology, 6, 81–97.

DOI: 10.1111/0022-4537.00175

DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-4560.1994.tb01196.x

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.06.121

DOI: 10.1108/JIMA-03-2021-0082

DOI: 10.3390/su11061558

DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.10.021