Energy conservation behavior of university occupants in Kuwait: A multigroup analysis

The continuous increase in energy consumption has led to strategies worldwide to encourage energy conservation behavioral strategies to mitigate high demand and environmental problems. Limited literature focuses on the university occupants' energy conservation behaviors (ECBs). This study examined how three university occupant groups (faculty, students, and staff) performed in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TBP) hypotheses. The current study also aims to examine how the occupants differ in the dimensions of TBP affecting their ECBs. Model testing was done using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and multigroup analysis (MGA). At the overall model, results showed that all predictors of ECB are significant. All hypotheses were supported except for direct relationships between EK and ECB and AWC and ECB. After applying the MGA, our research revealed that faculty demonstrated a more confident ECB and have a more positive INT than students and staff due to their EK and AWC. However, there is still a significant difference in the EK of occupants. Interestingly, this study found that students display greater trust in SNs than the levels of SNs reported by faculty and staff. This research suggests that universities should consider implementing unique energy education methods and approaches to each occupant.