Shifting consumer perspectives on energy efficiency and sustainable development

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has undeniably transformed the landscape of people’s daily lives, influenced not only their immediate mental and physical health concerns but also reshaped their attitudes and economic behaviour in many profound ways. Among these shifts, one of the most noteworthy is the change in consumer perspectives towards energy efficiency and energy consumption. As the pandemic brought about an era of uncertainty marked with economic upheavals and unpredicted changes, it simultaneously served as a catalyst for a collective re-evaluation of priorities, particularly concerning environmental sustainability and personal consumption habits. This paper focuses on assessing how the consumer perspectives on energy efficiency and energy consumption have altered during and after the recent pandemic into the ongoing post-pandemic era. Our results have some profound implications for stakeholders and policymakers who wish to shape up the acceptance of energy efficiency initiatives leading to tackling global warming and climate change and increasing the energy resilience of the society.