Toward an understanding of residential water conservation behaviors on Oahu Daniele Spirandelli 1,4 , Michael Roberts 2,3,4 , Kim Burnett 3 , Christopher Wada 3 , Theresa Dean 1 1 Department of Urban and Regional Planning 2 Department of Economics 3 University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization 4 Sea Grant College Program University of Hawaii-Manoa
Overview • Residential water consumption • Oahu survey • Preliminary results • Next steps
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 USGS Water Use data, National Water Information System 2010
Typical residential water use Source: Inskeep and Attari, 2012
Indoor water use Outdoor water use 2.5 > 100 ga./min ga. /day ute 3-20 ga./load <27 – 54 ga./ load <1.28 - 1.6 ga./ load
Factors associated with household water consumption Non-price Price • Efficiency technologies • Uniform pricing • Education campaign • Volumetric pricing • Rebates • Block-rate pricing • Rationing Other factors • Land use, built environment • Climate • Socio-demographics • Environmental attitudes & values (Ajzen, 1991) • Water use habits (Shove, 2004) 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.
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 Single Family (1-4) 256 Apartment 70 Single Family (5+) 47 Townhouse 20 Two Family House 13 0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Age Education 30 40 35 25 30 20 25 20 15 15 10 10 5 5 0 0 < high High school Some Bachelor's Graduate / 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-59 60+ school college professional Rent 24% Own 76% Household Income Household size 45 45 40 40 35 35 30 30 25 25 20 20 15 10 15 5 10 0 5 < $25k $25k- $50k - $100k - > $150k 0 $50k $99.99k $149.99k 1 2 3-4 5-9 10+
% of respondents 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 Dishwasher Low Flow Toilet Air Conditioner Preliminary Results Clothes Washer atleast 1 Indoor water devise Pool Outdoor watering system Garden Lawn atleast 1 outdoor characteristic
365 of households have a dishwasher, clothes washer or both Energy Star or WaterSense certified? Recently bought? No 10% No 31% Yes Yes 90% 69% Important features 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 Model Customer Water Price Rebate Features Reviews Efficiency Offered 1 - Not at all important 5 - Extremely important
245 (60%) households have at least 1 A/C unit Number of A/C units per household Type of A/C system 160 140 120 3 units 100 Count 20% 1 unit 80 34% 60 40 20 0 Window A/C Split A/C Central A/C Don't know 2 units 46% Important features 5 Recently purchased (< 10 yrs) 4 3 No 36% 2 Yes 1 Model Customer Efficiency Price Rebate 64% Features Reviews Offered 1 - Not at all important 5 - Extremely important
How do you prefer to water? How often do you water? n=306 n=195 40% 40% 30% 30% 20% 20% 10% 10% 0% 0% Less than Once a Every other Daily By garden Rely on Untimed Timed once a week week day hose rain irrigation irrigation What time of day do you water? Do you use a grey water system? n=195 n=111 100% 100% 80% 80% 60% 60% 40% 40% 20% 20% 0% 0% Rainwater Catchment No barrel or tank system
How important are the following factors influencing your choice in outdoor garden/landscape? 5 4 3 2 1 aesthetics maintenance food outdoor reduce water conserve water supplement entertainment bill 1 - Not at all important 5 - Extremely important
Water Conservation - personal effort 70 60 50 % of respondents 40 30 20 10 0 1 2 3 4 Low Effort High Effort Turn off water brushing teeth Tap runs for cool water Plants with low water needs wash car with hose
Participated in HBWS water conservation programs? 50 “Child participated in Olelo Youth Xchange video 45 contest … for xeriscape and water conservation.” 40 “Didn't know about these programs.” 35 % of respondents 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Toilet Rebate Halawa Xeriscape Mayors Challenge Rain barrel Image by Seri Nakamura, 2 nd place winner of HBWS 2012 Water Conservation Poster Contest
% of respondents 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 Water bill Do you limit how much water you use for any of these reasons? Conserve water Sewer bill Electric bill Do not limit Other
How concerned are you about Hawaii's future water supply? 80 “Afraid of having a water drought like California.” 70 “Just try to conserve water for conservation overall.” “Demonstrate that it is the commercial and tourism use of water 60 that causes waste-not residential.” 50 “We're centrally metered for the condo, but I try to observe water Percent conservation practices.” 40 “I grew up in the Bay Area with water rationing.” 30 20 10 0 Not At All Concerned Neutral/ Not Sure Slightly Concerned Moderately Extremely Concerned Concerned
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
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