Saving energy in the workplace: why, and for whom?
Saving energy at work might be considered altruistic, because often no personal benefits accrue. However, we consider the possibility that it can be a form of impure-altruism in that the individual experiences some rewards. We develop a scale to measure motivations to save energy at work and test it...
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| Format: | Article |
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Elsevier
2017
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44512/ |
| _version_ | 1848796932974051328 |
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| author | Leygue, Caroline Ferguson, Eamonn Spence, Alexa |
| author_facet | Leygue, Caroline Ferguson, Eamonn Spence, Alexa |
| author_sort | Leygue, Caroline |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Saving energy at work might be considered altruistic, because often no personal benefits accrue. However, we consider the possibility that it can be a form of impure-altruism in that the individual experiences some rewards. We develop a scale to measure motivations to save energy at work and test its predictive power for energy-saving intentions and sustainable choices. In two studies (N = 293 and N = 94) motivations towards helping their organization and the planet were rated as important motivations, as was warm-glow (feeling good), indicating that impure-altruism does exist in this context. Energy saving was predicted by environmental concern and the desire to help one's organization. Notably, the stronger the motivations to promote one's reputation were, the weaker was the intention to save energy. Promoting motivations, particularly those that focus on benefits to the organization, may be an effective addition to environmental messages typically used as motivations in campaigns. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:55:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-44512 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:55:51Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-445122020-05-04T19:19:54Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44512/ Saving energy in the workplace: why, and for whom? Leygue, Caroline Ferguson, Eamonn Spence, Alexa Saving energy at work might be considered altruistic, because often no personal benefits accrue. However, we consider the possibility that it can be a form of impure-altruism in that the individual experiences some rewards. We develop a scale to measure motivations to save energy at work and test its predictive power for energy-saving intentions and sustainable choices. In two studies (N = 293 and N = 94) motivations towards helping their organization and the planet were rated as important motivations, as was warm-glow (feeling good), indicating that impure-altruism does exist in this context. Energy saving was predicted by environmental concern and the desire to help one's organization. Notably, the stronger the motivations to promote one's reputation were, the weaker was the intention to save energy. Promoting motivations, particularly those that focus on benefits to the organization, may be an effective addition to environmental messages typically used as motivations in campaigns. Elsevier 2017-11-30 Article PeerReviewed Leygue, Caroline, Ferguson, Eamonn and Spence, Alexa (2017) Saving energy in the workplace: why, and for whom? Journal of Environmental Psychology, 53 . pp. 50-62. ISSN 1522-9610 Energy saving Motivations Altruism Organizational behavior https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.06.006 doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.06.006 doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.06.006 |
| spellingShingle | Energy saving Motivations Altruism Organizational behavior Leygue, Caroline Ferguson, Eamonn Spence, Alexa Saving energy in the workplace: why, and for whom? |
| title | Saving energy in the workplace: why, and for whom? |
| title_full | Saving energy in the workplace: why, and for whom? |
| title_fullStr | Saving energy in the workplace: why, and for whom? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Saving energy in the workplace: why, and for whom? |
| title_short | Saving energy in the workplace: why, and for whom? |
| title_sort | saving energy in the workplace: why, and for whom? |
| topic | Energy saving Motivations Altruism Organizational behavior |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44512/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44512/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44512/ |