Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 46 (2015) 1–15 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/rser Energy saving: Views and attitudes of students in secondary education Eirini Ntona a,n, Garyfallos Arabatzis b, Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos c a Environmental Education Center of Grevena, End of Taliadouri Street, Grevena 51100, Greece b Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Pantazidou 193, Orestiada, Greece c National Technical University of Athens, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electric Power Division, Photometry Laboratory, 9 Heroon Polytechniou Street, 157 80 Athens, Greece article info abstract Article history: Energy and its usage constitute one of the most important environmental issues nowadays that substantially Received 14 August 2014 affect economic and social development and the improvement of the quality of life in all countries. The risk of Received in revised form climate change and environmental degradation is real with the global development process and human 26 December 2014 intervention being the key components in dictating the nature of environmental problems. Education on energy Accepted 8 February 2015 issues should be the means for helping students cope with present and future energy needs and the adoption of appropriate, attitudes, lifestyle practices and behavior is deemed necessary. The purpose of this paper is to Keywords: investigate the complex of student's views and attitudes about energy and its usage related to the environment. Energy A questionnaire has been used as a research tool most appropriate to these research's goals. The results expose Saving the need for a radical change in patterns of human behavior towards an environmentally sustainable Students orientation and the dominant role that environmental education possesses in realizing this direction. Views & Attitudes 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Contents 1. Introduction..........................................................................................................1 2. Literature review . 2 3. Research methodology . 5 3.1. Environmental-energy habits . 8 3.2. Attitudes. 8 4. Results..............................................................................................................8 4.1. Descriptive statistics . 8 4.1.1. Socio-demographic characteristics . 8 4.1.2. Students' environmental and energy habits . 9 4.1.3. Students' attitudes . 9 4.2. Hypotheses testing . 9 4.3. Factor analysis . 10 5. Discussion..........................................................................................................12 6. Conclusions–suggestions . 13 6.1. Methodology . 13 6.2. Environmental education . 13 6.3. Strategies for sustainable energy management . 13 References.............................................................................................................. 13 1. Introduction n Corresponding author. Energy is of essential importance for the economic and social deve- E-mail addresses: [email protected] (E. Ntona), [email protected] (G. Arabatzis), lopment and the improvement of the quality of life in all countries. [email protected] (G.L. Kyriakopoulos). Nowadays, the largest percentage of utilized energy derives from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.02.033 1364-0321/& 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd. 2 E. Ntona et al. / Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 46 (2015) 1–15 conventional or non-renewable energy resources such as coal, oil, management of energy demand, promoting energy savings through natural gas, while the energy-related emissions correspond approxi- the implementation of effective measures and the second is related mately to the 80% of the total energy of greenhouse gas emissions of to the development of renewable energy technologies [15]. the EU [1]. Based on the Green Paper, the ways to improve energy efficiency, Energy is possibly the most important and dominant issue in which constitutes a global priority, consists of better use of energy, by today's world. Problems regarding resources and energy depletion improving energy efficiency technologies, while energy saving is have environmental consequences and they affect the global and defined as an effort to sensitize consumers and their behavior [16]. local political and economic stability, our choices as consumers, the The European strategy aims to the reduction of energy depen- health and welfare of humanity and the natural world [2]. Energy dence, based on two main targets: (1) the use of alternate energy and its use is a global environmental issue, related not only to global resources and (2) the application of the appropriate policies, in warming, caused by CO2 emissions, but also to other environmental order to save and control the consumption of energy. Renewable problems such as air pollution, ozone depletion, excessive utiliza- energy resources constitute a key for implementing this goal, by tion of forests and forest destruction, and emission of radioactive contributing to the sustainable development. Renewable energy substances. These issues must be taken into account if humanity is resources can boost the economy and have direct enterprising to achieve a sustainable energy future with minimal environmental benefits as well as reinforce science and technology [17]. impacts. Research evidence show that if humans continue degrad- Furthermore, at a European level, measures should be under- ing the environment the future will be negatively affected. The taken by Western Balkan countries which, even though hold a increase of global population and economic development will have high energy dynamic, give little priority to the increase of energy as a result the global demand for energy services and natural efficiency and the production of renewable energy resources, resources. In this direction, one solution to the impending energy while energy is a foundation for economic growth and social shortage is to make use of renewable energy sources [3,4]. advancement of these countries [18]. Therefore, the interest of scientists, state, citizens and stake- As numerous studies suggest, specialization of the workforce is holders has focused on adopting applications and technologies that essential, in order to achieve a proper and practice of the renewable incorporate “nature friendly” forms of energy. In this context, and energy resources. According to studies conducted in China and other taking into account the limited potential of fossil fuel technologies, developed countries, education constitutes an efficient way to pro- the incorporation of “environmentally friendly” energy, the efficient mote the development of renewable energy resources and the viability use of renewable energy sources, which are not only nature friendly of the workforce, and the aid of academic foundations and educational but also abundant, is essential [5]. constitutions proves to be crucial, in order to attain this target [19].Itis The renewable energy sources are also proven extremely attractive apparent that regardless of the geographical distribution of each in the educational systems within the European [6,7] and international research team, such a technical education reform should affiliate the contexts [8]. These projects strengthen the social-based team-working secondary education students to issues, including: results' interpreta- and management skills, while enabling the involvement of a wide tion in an integrated problem-solving manner; empowerment, own- spectrum of scientific fields: from agricultural and renewable sources ership, and goods' sharing; life-cycle costs; reusing; recycling; whole- to chemistry, biotechnology, engineering, and economy. Subsequently, life costing and greenhouse gas emissions' monitoring and tracking these in-depth and synergetic inter-principal approaches enhance the [20]; time and energy savings [21]. Subsequently, the aforementioned knowledge upon novel processes, design, and modeling. In parallel, socio-economic variables and technological advancements should the effectiveness of such bio-based redirections upon the existing enhance the students' acceptability to energy-sustainable schemes educational curriculum should enhance the diffusion of new knowl- and should reinforce the social cohesion in a currently liquefied edge towards industries that are involved in a bio-based economy and economic environment. should maximize the energy delivery, produced from biomass streams It is utmost importance that the education should play a pivotal and conversion technologies [7]. These energy-based projects are also role in achieving energy saving and reduction of greenhouse gas fostering the active participation in projects with local companies, emissions, aiming to a sustainable development. In this context, universities, and research institutes. the development of educational activities, which will focus on Indicative energy-oriented educational projects are the interna- students' awareness, attitudes and behavior, is an effective way to tional (Interreg) cooperation project “Energy Conversion Parks” (ECP) raise students' consciousness as far as energy is concerned [22]. [7]; the project of EverGREEN schools [8];the“Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection” (EGEE 102) general education online course [9]; the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology 2. Literature review (ABET) – a project upon technical education, that addresses