Profiling potential green electricity tariff adopters: Green consumerism as an environmental policy tool?

Ivan Diaz-Rainey*, John K. Ashton

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Green electricity tariffs are one means by which green consumers can contribute to a more sustainable future. This paper profiles potential adopters of green electricity tariffs. Potential adoption is measured in terms of respondents' willingness to pay a premium for green energy in a national survey of the UK population. Hypotheses based principally on the cognitive-behavioural literature on green consumerism and green energy markets are developed. These are tested using a broad range of variables, which are grouped into three categories (demographic, attitudinal and behavioural). Consistent with past research, the empirical analyses find that attitudinal variables best characterize potential adopters. Further, potential adopters are found to have higher income, be better informed with respect to energy matters, show concern for the environment and believe that individual actions can make a difference to environmental decay. The implications of these findings for marketing and environmental policy are explored.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)456-470
Number of pages15
JournalBusiness Strategy and the Environment
Volume20
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2011

Keywords

  • Energy policy
  • Environmental policy
  • Green consumerism
  • Green electricity
  • Green energy
  • Investment in renewables
  • Sustainable development
  • Willingness to pay

Cite this