Predicting energy-saving behaviour based on environmental values: An analysis of school children’s perspectives

Abstract

Energy-saving behaviours are pro-environment behaviours that help mitigate climate change. Environmental values namely biospheric, altruistic, and egoistic one are related to one’s pro-environmental behaviour. Thus, this research examines the contribution of environmental values to the practice of energy-saving behaviour. This research employed the survey design, in which a questionnaire was administered on 341 children (aged 11 years old) in Malaysia. The data were analysed using descriptive and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that children pos-sess all of the environmental values (biospheric, altruistic, and egoistic) and that energy-saving behaviour is found to be occasionally and often practiced in their daily lives. The students’ altruistic values contribute significantly to their energy-saving behaviour pattern compared to biospheric and egoistic values. It is argued that the children’s personal experiences with climate adversity and so-cioeconomic background underlie these findings. An implication of this study is that the school curriculum should allow for discourse on the connection between environmental values and pro-environmental behaviour. Relating the cause and impact of one’s action in everyday life on the environment should be inculcated across the curriculum, more importantly at the primary level.