“Want cleaner clothes, a cozier home, lower utility bills, and to be a leader in curbing climate change? Then consider replacing your old appliances with new, energy efficient ones,” said Dr. Walton Wider as he introduced a research he conducted with counterparts from University Malaysia of Pahang, Gambang.
Titled “Determinants of Energy Efficient Appliances Among Malaysian Households: Roles of Theory of Planned Behaviour, Social Interaction and Appliance Quality”, the collaborative research with Siti Aminah Harun and Nur Muneerah Kasim from the Faculty of Industrial Management, UMP and Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi from the Centre for Software Development & Integrated Computing, UMP showcases consumer behaviour, especially when purchasing non-environmentally friendly electrical appliances that significantly contribute to environmental problems and climate change.
These research collaborations between government and private universities reflects a joint commitment towards strengthening education in the local scene.
Energy optimization means maximizing the way energy is used in a home or business setting. This goes beyond simply using less energy and should include expanding energy efficiency and savings in the spaces we are already in.
Dr. Walton Wider, Head of Programme at the Faculty of Business and Communication, INTI International University, Nilai, conducted a research titled “Determinants of Energy Efficient Appliances Among Malaysian Households: Roles of Theory of Planned Behaviour, Social Interaction and Appliance Quality” which revealed consumer behaviour when purchasing non-environmentally friendly electrical appliances significantly contributed towards environmental issues and climate change.
According to the research by Dr. Walton, Head of Programme at the Faculty of Business and Communications in INTI International University, Nilai, it was revealed that there are many reasons why consumers should consider optimizing their energy use, from the clear environmental and financial benefits of cutting energy use to potential improvement in mental and physical health.
He said, “Whether your motivations for energy conservation are economic, environmental, or personal, the benefits of energy efficiency will have something to offer for everyone.”
Nowadays, households remain one of the major contributors to harmful greenhouse gases because they use home appliances that consume a lot of energy. Greenhouse gases are the leading cause of global warming and climate change. These gases are responsible for the absorption of infrared radiation that leads to the holding and trapping of heat in the atmosphere. As a result, the warmth from the Earth’s surface would continue to increase[1].
“People also depend on water to live, and conserving water should be an equal responsibility amongst all. To preserve it for the next generation, water should be kept pure and safe. Thus, as a responsible consumer the ideal move is to use home appliances such as dryers, washers, refrigerators, freezers, and air purifiers for more efficient energy conservation at home while helping to reduce electricity and water bills for the coming years, besides protecting the environment from harmful gases such as carbon dioxide.
“This is why we encourage people to take advantage of today’s innovations such as using energy efficient tools to reduce the emission of carbon footprint,” Dr. Walton explained.
The study also revealed that social interaction and the quality of energy efficient appliances affect the intention of purchasing energy efficient appliances.
Communication is important as consumers will actively share information regarding their purchases of energy efficient appliances, especially household appliances, with their families, friends, and neighbours.
“For instance, information regarding appliance quality will spread faster and lead to higher intention to purchase the product if its quality is being positively conveyed. Hence, there are many factors that play a role in motivating consumers to purchase energy efficient appliances. There are a lot more pros than cons that we can reap if we go the energy efficient way,” shared Dr. Walton.
To conclude, he said sustainability is increasingly top of mind for many consumers, so companies are starting to up their eco-friendliness and produce green appliances that are better for the Earth in ways that range from energy-saving features, to packaging, to earth-friendly materials. After all, appliances are one of the biggest energy users of the household, ranking just behind air conditioning and water heating. With the right appliance, a homeowner can not only work more effectively in their space but can also feel good about being kind to the environment.
[1] https://www.nrdc.org/stories/greenhouse-effect-101#:~:text=Bednarski%20for%20NRDC-,What%20Are%20Greenhouse%20Gases%3F,gases%20(which%20are%20synthetic).