Thesis
Usage behaviour of a personal carbon monitoring system
Southern Cross University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
2019
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25918/thesis.54
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Abstract
The theory behind anthropogenic climate change and its connection with the carbon emissions associated with fossil fuel usage has been well documented. Personal Carbon Trading (PCT) is a generic term used to describe several similar conceptual downstream schemes that aim to reduce carbon emissions at an individual level. However, the literature surrounding PCT is theoretical in nature, and there does not appear to be any evidence outside of the current research of a Personal Carbon Trading System (PCTS) or a Personal Carbon Monitoring System (PCMS) having been evaluated across a whole community. This research seeks to fill the gap in the literature in this respect.
The voluntary Norfolk Island Carbon and Health Evaluation (NICHE) PCMS was designed and developed by the author based on the most detailed conceptual PCT schemes. For 15 months, the NICHE PCMS monitored the carbon emissions produced by the fossil fuel usage (petrol, diesel, electricity, and gas) for 219 households on Norfolk Island (27% of total households) and provided a carbon emission reduction target based on household size. Survey instruments that were open to all households on Norfolk Island were administered before and after the NICHE PCMS trial to gather attitudinal and behavioural data across a range of areas. The conceptual model underpinning the research was adapted from the Extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM2) that measures user acceptance and usage behaviour of information systems. Additional constructs included in the model were identified in the review of the literature covering attitudes and behaviours towards the environment, carbon emissions, climate change, health, and PCT.
Findings from the research show that there were significant changes in attitudes and behaviours towards the environment, carbon emissions, and climate change following the NICHE PCMS trial, and these attitudes and behaviours predicted higher levels of variance in attitudes toward PCT. Individuals who participated in the trial (PCMS users) were significantly more likely to believe in anthropogenic climate change and display positive attitudes towards PCT than those that did not participate (non-PCMS users). For PCMS users, their attitudes towards PCT were predicted by their attitudes towards the environment, carbon emissions, and climate change, whereas the predictors in attitudes towards PCT for non-PCMS users were attitudes regarding their health and body weight. Finally, the significant factors that predicted the usage of the NICHE PCMS were Carbon Consciousness, Consumer Consciousness, Voluntariness, Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, and Intention to Use.
Details
- Title
- Usage behaviour of a personal carbon monitoring system
- Creators
- Alexander David Hendry
- Contributors
- William J Smart (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversityBruce Armstrong (Supervisor)Michael Charles (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversityVinh Bui (Supervisor) - Southern Cross University
- Awarding Institution
- Southern Cross University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Theses
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
- Publisher
- Southern Cross University
- Number of pages
- xv, 387
- Identifiers
- 991012875900102368
- Copyright
- Copyright AD Hendry 2019
- Academic Unit
- School of Business and Tourism; Information Technology; Faculty of Science and Engineering; Management; Faculty of Business, Law and Arts
- Resource Type
- Thesis