DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECT OF CHANGES IN FAMILY STRUCTURE AND LIFESTYLE UPON ENERGY CONSUMPTION, 1950-1980 (CONSERVATION, HISTORICAL ANALYSIS

This research project examines both the direct and indirect influence of changes in family structure and lifestyle dimensions upon residential energy consumption patterns from 1950 to 1980. These relationships are investigated on a macro level using three national energy surveys administered from 1974 to 1980 and the Census Bureau and other government sources of documenting changes in social characteristics and energy consumption levels over thirty years.;Stage I looks at changes in residential consumption from 1950 to 1980 and conservation behavior from 1965 to 1980. Generally speaking, consumption of space conditioning and transportation fuels climbs steadily from 1950 to 1970 followed by consumption decline in 1980. Conservation efforts fluctuate with a high in 1974, decline in 1977-78, and a small resurgence in 1979-80.;The objective of Stage II is to identify those family structure and lifestyle characteristics that constrain conservation measures in which a household engages. The national energy surveys provide this information. Interestingly, many social variables that appear to facilitate investment in equipment for space conditioning conservation actually constrain investment in energy efficient cars, especially homeownership.;Stage III examines the commonly held assumption that investment in conservation equipment will result in reduced consumption. The 1978-79 National Interim Energy Consumption Survey (NIECS) is one of very few studies able to assess both conservation efforts and consumption. Surprisingly, analysis reveals that in most cases conserver households consume slightly more energy than nonconservers.;Stage IV explores the potential influence that changes in structural and lifestyle characteristics of householders may have upon average consumption levels from 1950 to 1980.;The primary implications of this study are: (1) in order to obtain a complete picture of the current energy situation, it is necessary to examine consumption and conservation behavior both before and after the 1973 oil embargo, and (2) changes in social structural and lifestyle of households over time appear to have contributed as much, if not more, to reduce consumption in the late 1970s as did conscious conservation efforts by householders. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).