Toward an understanding of residential water conservation - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Toward an understanding of residential water conservation behaviors on Oahu

Daniele Spirandelli1,4, Michael Roberts2,3,4, Kim Burnett3, Christopher Wada3, Theresa Dean1

1Department of Urban and Regional Planning 2Department of Economics 3University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization 4Sea Grant College Program

University 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./min ute <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

50 100 150 200 250 300

Two Family House Townhouse Single Family (5+) Apartment Single Family (1-4)

5 10 15 20 25 30

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-59 60+

Age

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 < high school High school Some college Bachelor's Graduate / professional

Education

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

1 2 3-4 5-9 10+

Household size

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

< $25k $25k- $50k $50k - $99.99k $100k - $149.99k > $150k

Household Income

Own 76% Rent 24%

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Dishwasher Low Flow Toilet Air Conditioner Clothes Washer atleast 1 Indoor water devise Pool Outdoor watering system Garden Lawn atleast 1 outdoor characteristic

Preliminary Results

% of respondents

Yes 69% No 31%

Yes 90% No 10%

Energy Star or WaterSense certified?

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0

Model Features Customer Reviews Water Efficiency Price Rebate Offered 1 - Not at all important 5 - Extremely important

Recently bought?

365 of households have a dishwasher, clothes washer or both

Important features

1 unit 34% 2 units 46% 3 units 20%

Number of A/C units per household

245 (60%) households have at least 1 A/C unit

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Window A/C Split A/C Central A/C Don't know Count

Type of A/C system Yes 64% No 36% Recently purchased (< 10 yrs)

1 2 3 4 5

Model Features Customer Reviews Efficiency Price Rebate Offered

1 - Not at all important 5 - Extremely important

Important features

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

By garden hose Rely on rain Untimed irrigation Timed irrigation

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%

Rainwater barrel or tank Catchment system No

Do you use a grey water system? n=111

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Less than

• nce a week

Once a week Every other day Daily

How often do you water? n=195

1 2 3 4 5

aesthetics maintenance food supplement

• utdoor

entertainment reduce water bill conserve water 1 - Not at all important 5 - Extremely important

How important are the following factors influencing your choice in outdoor garden/landscape?

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 1 2 3 4 % of respondents 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

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Toilet Rebate Halawa Xeriscape Mayors Challenge Rain barrel

% of respondents

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

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Water bill Conserve water Sewer bill Electric bill Do not limit Other % of respondents

Do you limit how much water you use for any of these reasons?

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Not At All Concerned Neutral/ Not Sure Slightly Concerned Moderately Concerned Extremely Concerned Percent

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.

Mahalo Questions?

Daniele Spirandelli danieles@hawaii.edu