Residential energy consumption in low-income and elderly households: how nondiscretionary is it

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Energy Syst. Policy; (United States)

OSTI ID:5760677

Brown, M A; Rollinson, P A

The energy literature is replete with arguments that the poor and elderly have cut their residential energy consumption to a minimum. This paper challenges these conclusions through an analysis of (data on a sample of Decatur. Illinois homeowners living in single-family, detached dwelling units. The data include utility bill histories and survey information on housing characteristics, energy-related behavior, attitudes, and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. It shows that residential energy consumption per square foot of living space is significantly higher for the elderly and poor than for the other groups in the Decatur sample. By breaking) energy use into seasonal components, the paper estimates consumption for various household uses. This information, combined with the survey data, suggests that both subgroups have significant discretionary energy use, partly because of the conditions of their homes and partly because of their energy-related behavior. The public policy implications of this finding are discussed.

• Research Organization: Energy Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
• OSTI ID: 5760677
• Journal Information: Energy Syst. Policy; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Syst. Policy; (United States) Vol. 9:3; ISSN ESYPB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
298000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Consumption & Utilization
AGE GROUPS
AGED ADULTS
ANIMALS
BUILDINGS
ELDERLY PEOPLE
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
HUMAN POPULATIONS
LOW INCOME GROUPS
MAMMALS
MAN
MINORITY GROUPS
POPULATIONS
PRIMATES
PUBLIC POLICY
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
VERTEBRATES