Li, Xiuqing; Mao, Hui; Fang, Lan
A icle — Published Ve sion
The impac o u al human capi al on household ene gy
consump ion s uc u e: E idence om Shaanxi P o ince in
China
Sus ainable Fu u es
P o ided in Coope a ion wi h:
Leibniz Ins i u e o Ag icul u al De elopmen in T ansi ion Economies (IAMO), Halle (Saale)
Sugges ed Ci a ion: Li, Xiuqing; Mao, Hui; Fang, Lan (2024) : The impac o u al human capi al on
household ene gy consump ion s uc u e: E idence om Shaanxi P o ince in China, Sus ainable
Fu u es, ISSN 2666-1888, Else ie , Ams e dam, Vol. 8, pp. 1-10,
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The impac o u al human capi al on household ene gy consump ion
s uc u e: E idence om Shaanxi P o ince in China
Xiuqing Li
a
, Hui Mao
a
, Lan Fang
a,b,*
a
No hwes Ins i u e o His o ical En i onmen and Socio-Economic De elopmen , Shaanxi No mal Uni e si y, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710119, China
b
Leibniz Ins i u e o Ag icul u al De elopmen in T ansi ion Economies (IAMO), Theodo -Liese -S . 2, 06120 Halle (Saale), Ge many
ARTICLE INFO
JEL:
D13
D31
J24
Q43
Keywo ds:
Human capi al
Ene gy consump ion s uc u e
Income le el
En i onmen al awa eness
ABSTRACT
The s uc u e o u al household ene gy consump ion is c ucial o u al esiden s’ li ing s anda ds and quali y o
li e, cons i u ing an in eg al componen o ene gy ansi ion and p omo ing Chinese-s yle mode niza ion.
Meanwhile, u al human capi al is a p e equisi e o ag icul u al and u al mode niza ion. D awing on su ey
da a om 791 households in Shaanxi P o ince, his s udy empi ically examines he impac and mechanisms o
human capi al on he household ene gy consump ion s uc u e wi h he o dina y leas squa e (OLS) model and
ins umen al a iable (IV) me hod. The indings indica e ha human capi al signi ican ly educes adi ional
ene gy consump ion while inc easing he adop ion o ansi ional and ad anced ene gy. This conclusion emains
obus a e igo ous es ing. Mechanism analysis e eals ha human capi al acili a es he shi om adi ional
o ansi ional and ad anced ene gy by enhancing pu chasing powe , en i onmen al awa eness, and he e-
quency o ene gy-sa ing echnology usage wi hin households. Fu he analysis demons a es ha highe le els o
human capi al co ela e wi h a g ea e likelihood o households ansi ioning om adi ional ene gy o an-
si ional and ad anced ene gy. Pa icula ly, households wi h a high school educa ion exhibi a signi ican inc ease
in he consump ion o ansi ional and ad anced ene gy while no ably educing adi ional ene gy consump ion.
Mo eo e , compa ed o low-income households, human capi al has a signi ican ly posi i e e ec on inc easing
he adop ion o ad anced ene gy in high-income households. Hence, p io i izing in es men in u al educa ion,
p o iding mo e educa ional esou ces, imp o ing school acili ies, and implemen ing incen i e policies o
emphasize educa ion wi hin households a e ecommended s a egies o enhance u al esiden s’ human capi als.
This, in u n, acili a es hei adop ion o ansi ional and ad anced ene gy, educing dependence on adi ional
ene gy.
1. In oduc ion
Since adop ing he Pa is Ag eemen in 2015, discussions su ounding
ene gy usage ha e unde gone signi ican shi s in bo h go e nmen al
and academic sphe es, ocusing on ene gy- ela ed ac i i ies o achie e
global sus ainable de elopmen ansi ions [41]. Ene gy is an indis-
pensable esou ce in mode n socie y, and household ene gy consump-
ion cons i u es a i al a ea closely in e wined wi h daily li e,
encompassing how households u ilize ene gy o ul ill a ious needs,
including hea ing, ligh ing, cooking, and elec ici y [35]. Ru al house-
hold ene gy consump ion is a c ucial componen o China’s ene gy
demand [51]. The e o e, unde s anding he pa e ns, ends, and in lu-
encing ac o s o u al household ene gy consump ion is essen ial o
ene gy policies, sus ainable de elopmen , and en i onmen al p o ec-
ion. F om 1980 o 2021, China’s pe capi a ene gy consump ion
inc eased om 60
1, 3, 4
kgs o 478 kgs o s anda d coal.
1
The household
sec o cons i u es a signi ican consume o ene gy, pa icula ly solid
uels such as loose coal. Compa ed o cleane ene gy like elec ici y and
na u al gas, solid uels ha e di icul ies achie ing ull combus ion,
esul ing in subs an ial emissions o pollu an s in household ene gy
consump ion domina ed by solid uels like loose coal. Fu he mo e,
unlike he powe and indus ial sec o s, pollu an s gene a ed by he
D13 - Household P oduc ion and In ahousehold Alloca ion. D31 - Pe sonal Income, Weal h, and Thei Dis ibu ions. J24 - Human Capi al;Skills; Occupa ional
Choice; Labo P oduc i i y. Q43 - Ene gy and he Mac oeconomy
* Co esponding au ho .
E-mail add ess: [email p o ec ed] (L. Fang).
1
I is de i ed om CEIC da a.
Con en s lis s a ailable a ScienceDi ec
Sus ainable Fu u es
jou nal homepage: www.sciencedi ec .com/jou nal/sus ainable- u u es
h ps://doi.o g/10.1016/j.s .2024.100301
Recei ed 16 June 2024; Recei ed in e ised o m 22 Augus 2024; Accep ed 11 Sep embe 2024
Sus ainable Fu u es 8 (2024) 100301
A ailable online 14 Sep embe 2024
2666-1888/© 2024 The Au ho (s). Published by Else ie L d. This is an open access a icle unde he CC BY-NC-ND license ( h p://c ea i ecommons.o g/licenses/by-
nc-nd/4.0/ ).
household sec o o en unde go no end-o -pipe ea men and a e
di ec ly emi ed in o he a mosphe e, making he household sec o one
o he majo sou ces o a mosphe ic pollu an emissions [28,59].
Accompanying he apid inc ease in ene gy consump ion, signi ican
changes ha e occu ed in he ene gy consump ion pa e ns o u al
households in China, al hough issues o insu iciency and imbalance
pe sis . S uc u ally, he e is a g owing di e si y in ene gy consump ion
choices, and ene gy use pa e ns ha e imp o ed, ye eliance on adi-
ional solid uels such as i ewood and loose coal pe sis s [20]. Spa ially,
a ia ions in ene gy usage s uc u es exis among egions [29]. The
i a ionali y o household ene gy consump ion s uc u es exace ba es
economic po e y on he one hand [26,27] and poses se e e h ea s o
he en i onmen , clima e, and esiden s’ heal h on he o he [1,44,57].
The e o e, p omo ing he ansi ion o u al household ene gy is no
only a c ucial p oposi ion o ealizing China’s ene gy ansi ion bu also
an objec i e necessi y o imp o ing esiden s’ li ing s anda ds, accel-
e a ing u al economic de elopmen , and na owing he u ban- u al
gap. Cu en ly, he le el o economic de elopmen in u al China e-
mains ela i ely low. Despi e subs an ial subsidies p o ided by he
go e nmen o equipmen pu chase and ene gy use, hese do no ully
co e he ene gy expenses o u al households. Mos amilies s ill canno
a o d he high ene gy cos s. Mo eo e , he highe p ices o ad anced
ene gy exace ba e he di icul y o ene gy ansi ion. In his p edica-
men , cla i ying he objec i e laws go e ning he ene gy consump ion
s uc u e o u al households in China becomes excep ionally c ucial.
Based on he su ey esul s o 791 households in Shaanxi P o ince
(Table 1), households solely consuming adi ional ene gy like i ewood
accoun o only 1.39 %. Those consuming i ewood, coal, and e ined
oil cons i u e 1.77 %, while households consuming i ewood, elec ici y,
na u al gas, and sola ene gy ep esen 72.95 %. Addi ionally, house-
holds consuming coal, e ined oil, elec ici y, na u al gas, and sola
ene gy accoun o 64.85 %, and hose consuming all men ioned ene gy
ypes comp ise 53.60 %. Household ene gy consump ion is ansi ioning
om adi ional sou ces like i ewood o ansi ional sou ces like coal
and e ined oil, as well as o high-quali y sou ces like elec ici y, na u al
gas, and sola ene gy. Conce ning u al esiden s’ ene gy choices,
exis ing li e a u e has p oposed he phenomenon o ene gy s acking in
esiden s’ ene gy selec ion beha io s [3,48]. This hypo hesis sugges s
ha as social and economic s a uses imp o e, esiden s’ ene gy choices
unde go co esponding changes, leading o he eme gence o ene gy
s acking, which can be ca ego ized in o h ee s ages. The i s s age is he
ini ial s age, cha ac e ized by esiden s p ima ily using adi ional
biomass ene gy such as i ewood, s aw, and animal manu e. The second
s age is he ansi ional s age, whe e esiden s abandon adi ional
biomass ene gy and shi owa ds ossil uels like cha coal, coal, and
ke osene. The hi d s age is he ad anced s age, whe e esiden s p e-
dominan ly use mode n comme cial ene gy like elec ici y, na u al gas,
and lique ied pe oleum gas, which exhibi highe ene gy e iciency and
lowe cos s han p e ious s ages.
Exis ing esea ch on he in luencing ac o s o household ene gy
consump ion s uc u e mainly includes se e al aspec s: geog aphic
loca ion [51], socio-cul u al ac o s [10], household size and composi-
ion [60], household economic s a us [45], ene gy equipmen and
echnologies used by households [49], indi idual and household li e-
s yles and consump ion habi s [18], ene gy p ice luc ua ions and in-
c eases [24], and go e nmen ene gy policies and egula ions [40].
Human capi al se es as he engine o long- e m economic g ow h
in an economy [38], and educa ion is he p ima y mode o in es men in
human capi al. The "Opinions on Accele a ing he Ru al Re i aliza ion
h ough Talen De elopmen " issued by he Gene al O ice o he Cen al
Commi ee o he Communis Pa y o China and he Gene al O ice o
he S a e Council in 2021 emphasized placing he de elopmen o u al
human capi al in a p ima y posi ion, imp o ing he u al alen wo k
sys em and mechanisms, s eng hening alen e i aliza ion gua an ee
measu es, and making essen ial a angemen s o accele a ing he
e i aliza ion o u al alen s. Ru al human capi al has always been he
in insic d i ing o ce o u al e i aliza ion [50], and a key s a egy o
imp o ing a me s’ income, coping wi h demog aphic challenges and
p omo ing social s abili y [37]. Theo e ically, he enhancemen o
human capi al enables households o adop clean ene gy echnologies
mo e e ec i ely. I inc eases hei awa eness, skills, and esou ces o
play a mo e ac i e ole in he clean ene gy sec o [2,22]. This helps
educe dependence on adi ional ene gy, p omo es clean, sus ainable
ene gy consump ion, and aids in add essing clima e change and
educing en i onmen al pollu ion. In addi ion, exis ing s udies ha e
explo ed he impo an ole o u al human capi al om he pe spec i es
o heal h in es men , ag icul u al p oduc i i y, and u baniza ion le el.
I is ound ha imp o ing human capi al in u al a eas can signi ican ly
p omo e ag icul u al mode niza ion [61] and acili a e he p ocess o
u baniza ion [11]. Al hough exis ing esea ch has no explici ly s a ed
ha u al human capi al can imp o e household ene gy consump ion
s uc u es, logically, he e is a speci ic connec ion be ween he wo. This
is because human capi al is he p ima y means o enhancing he quali y,
knowledge, and abili ies o u al labo , se ing as a complemen and
al e na i e o p oduc i e asse s in household p oduc ion, p omo ing
inc eased household income, and hus enabling households o a o d a
b oade ange o ene gy consump ion op ions [16]. The e o e, explo ing
he impac o u al human capi al on household ene gy consump ion
s uc u es holds signi ican p ac ical signi icance.
The e o e, based on he ene gy s acking hypo hesis, his pape will
esea ch he ene gy consump ion s uc u e o u al esiden s in China,
examining he impac o u al human capi al on esiden s’ ene gy con-
sump ion s uc u e. The aim is o p o ide a new pe spec i e o esea ch
on ene gy and clima e/en i onmen al issues and o e scien i ic e e -
ences and bases o o mula ing ene gy ansi ion policies. Compa ed o
p e ious s udies, his pape a emp s o supplemen exis ing esea ch in
he ollowing aspec s: Fi s ly, in e ms o esea ch con en , his s udy
inco po a es u al human capi al in o he analysis o household ene gy
consump ion s uc u es o e i y i s ole in op imizing hese s uc u es,
he eby p o iding a new pe spec i e o imp o ing household ene gy
consump ion pa e ns. Secondly, in e ms o heo e ical mechanisms,
his s udy will ocus on analyzing how u al human capi al in luences
household ene gy consump ion s uc u es h ough paymen capaci y,
en i onmen al awa eness, and he equency o ene gy-sa ing echnol-
ogy usage. Las ly, om a esea ch pe spec i e, his s udy will explo e he
di e ences in he impac o a ious le els o human capi al on house-
hold ene gy consump ion s uc u es, as well as he ole o human capi al
in in luencing he ene gy consump ion s uc u es o households wi h
di e en income le els, he eby o e ing a decision-making basis o
e ec i ely imp o ing household ene gy consump ion s uc u es.
The es o he pape is s uc u ed as ollows: The second sec ion
comp ises heo e ical analysis and esea ch hypo heses. The hi d
Table 1
Types o household ene gy consump ion.
Only i ewood is consumed Consump ion o i ewood;
Coal, e ined oil
Consump ion o i ewood;
Elec ici y, na u al gas, sola
Consump ion o coal and e ined
oil; Elec ici y, na u al gas, sola
Consump ion o i ewood; Coal,
e ined oil; Elec ici y, na u al
gas, sola
Numbe o
households
P opo ion o
o al (%)
Numbe o
households
P opo ion o
o al (%)
Numbe o
households
P opo ion o
o al (%)
Numbe o
households
P opo ion o
o al (%)
Numbe o
households
P opo ion o
o al (%)
11 1.39 14 1.77 577 72.95 513 64.85 424 53.60
X. Li e al.
Sus ainable Fu u es 8 (2024) 100301
2
sec ion co e s models, a iables, and da a. The ou h sec ion en ails
empi ical analysis, and he i h comp ises conclusions and policy
implica ions.
2. Theo e ical analysis and esea ch hypo heses
Acco ding o he heo y o human capi al, indi iduals can enhance
hei compe i i eness and income le els in he labo ma ke by in es ing
in human capi al accumula ion h ough educa ion and aining [13].
Highe income le els may lead o households being mo e capable o
paying high ene gy cos s o pu chasing mo e e icien ene gy equip-
men , a ec ing household ene gy consump ion le els [17]. This is p i-
ma ily mani es ed in he ollowing aspec s: Fi s ly, he e is an
imp o emen in educa ion and awa eness. On one hand, p o iding en-
e gy consump ion educa ion and aining enables households o un-
de s and he impo ance o ene gy conse a ion and sus ainable ene gy,
enhancing he ene gy managemen skills o household membe s,
including how o use household appliances and equipmen mo e e ec-
i ely [33]. On he o he hand, p omo ing ene gy-sa ing awa eness
encou ages households o adop mo e en i onmen ally iendly ene gy
consump ion habi s, os e ing knowledge o sus ainable ene gy among
household membe s, such as using enewable ene gy like sola and wind
ene gy [31]. Secondly, he e is an enhancemen in echnological and
inno a ion le els. Th ough in es men in educa ion in echnology and
inno a ion ields, household membe s can be e unde s and eme ging
ene gy-sa ing echnologies and a e mo e likely o accep and adop
hese echnologies. They can de elop an unde s anding o sma home
echnologies and ene gy managemen sys ems o moni o and manage
household ene gy consump ion mo e e ec i ely [39]. Las ly, he e is he
ole o ad ocacy and educa ion. High human capi al amily membe s
ha e some in luence in he communi y. By sha ing knowledge and
expe ience, hey can p omo e ene gy-e icien and en i onmen ally
iendly li es yles and in luence amilies a ound hem o adop g eene
ene gy consump ion pa e ns [32]. High human capi al amily membe s
may also become ad oca es o "g een li ing", sp eading in o ma ion
abou ene gy conse a ion and enewable ene gy h ough social media
o communi y ac i i ies, he eby d i ing he imp o emen o he ene gy
consump ion s uc u e o he en i e communi y [53]. Based on his, he
ollowing hypo heses a e p oposed:
H1: Inc eased human capi als can imp o e household ene gy con-
sump ion s uc u es.
Fu he mo e, on he one hand, household membe s, h ough highe
educa ion, oca ional aining, and skill de elopmen , enhance hei
employabili y, he eby gaining access o highe -paying job oppo u-
ni ies, inc easing hei incomes, and allowing households o in es mo e
unds in ene gy-e icien home appliances and sus ainable ene gy ech-
nologies. Con inuous ca ee de elopmen and income g ow h p o ide
households wi h mo e inancial esou ces o pu chase sola panels,
e icien appliances, and ene gy-sa ing de ices. These ypically
consume less ene gy and help educe ene gy consump ion and associ-
a ed ene gy cos s, he eby imp o ing household ene gy consump ion
s uc u es [58]. On he o he hand, indi iduals wi h highe le els o
educa ion can accumula e weal h h ough in elligen in es men and
inancial managemen , he eby enhancing hei paymen capabili y. By
in es ing in enewable ene gy p ojec s o o he oppo uni ies in en i-
onmen al sec o s, households can achie e long- e m ene gy cos sa -
ings [34]. Addi ionally, highly educa ed households can de elop
long- e m ene gy e iciency imp o emen plans, g adually educing
ene gy was e and enhancing household paymen capabili ies.
High-income households a e mo e likely o conside long- e m in-
es men s because hey can pay o hem and expec o bene i om
hem in he coming yea s. As ime p og esses, he cos s o clean ene gy
echnologies g adually dec ease while hei pe o mance con inues o
imp o e [36]. The e o e, high-income households a e mo e likely o
keep up wi h he de elopmen o hese echnologies, making i easie o
hem o choose clean ene gy as pa o hei ene gy supply. Based on he
abo e analysis, he ollowing esea ch hypo heses a e p oposed:
H2a: Inc eased human capi als imp o e household ene gy s uc u es
by enhancing household paymen capabili y.
Las ly, he Knowledge, A i ude, and P ac ice (KAP) heo y posi s
ha knowledge, a i udes, and p ac ices a e in e ela ed and collec i ely
in luence indi idual beha io [56]. Rega ding household ene gy con-
sump ion, household membe s’ knowledge le el and a i udes (such as
en i onmen al awa eness) may in luence hei cogni ion and a i udes
owa ds ene gy use, he eby a ec ing hei ac ual ene gy-sa ing be-
ha io s. Some s udies sugges ha highe educa ion households a e
mo e conscious o adop ing ene gy-sa ing measu es and sus ainable
li es yles [31]. Addi ionally, he Technology Accep ance Model (TAM)
sugges s ha he deg ee o which people accep new echnology depends
on hei pe cep ions o i s use ulness and ease o use [9]. The e o e, in
household ene gy consump ion, household membe s’ knowledge and
skill le els ega ding ene gy-sa ing echnology may a ec hei accep-
ance o ene gy-sa ing equipmen and echnologies, hus in luencing
ene gy consump ion beha io . Indi iduals wi h highe educa ion le els
a e mo e likely o unde s and he impo ance o ene gy conse a ion
and i s implemen a ion me hods, hus po en ially adop ing mo e
ene gy-sa ing beha io s in household ene gy consump ion. Based on
his, he ollowing hypo hesis is p oposed:
H2b: Inc eased human capi als imp o e household ene gy s uc u es
by enhancing en i onmen al awa eness.
Human capi al encompasses an indi idual’s accumula ion o
knowledge, skills, heal h s a us, and educa ion le els, all o which a e
c ucial o unde s anding and adop ing new echnologies [15]. The e-
o e, enhancing human capi als can p omo e he equency o household
ene gy-sa ing echnology usage in mul iple ways. On one hand, highe
educa ion le els ypically make people mo e ecep i e o new echnol-
ogies. Inc easing people’s knowledge le els helps hem be e unde -
s and he p inciples and ad an ages o ene gy-sa ing echnologies,
making hem mo e willing o adop hem [55]. On he o he hand,
enhancing human capi al means people ha e mo e skills, including he
abili y o use and main ain new echnologies. This makes household
membe s mo e adap able o and capable o using ene gy-sa ing ech-
nologies, such as sola panels and sma he mos a de ices [54].
Addi ionally, a highe le el o human capi al implies mo e a en ion o
heal h and quali y o li e. People may be mo e conce ned abou en i-
onmen al issues and willing o adop echnologies ha educe en i-
onmen al impac s, hus inc easing he equency o household
ene gy-sa ing echnology usage [62]. The e o e, imp o ing human
capi al in ol es mo e ac o s ela ed o unde s anding, accep ing, and
adop ing echnology, p o iding a o able condi ions o household
ene gy-sa ing echnologies.
H2c: Inc eased human capi als imp o e household ene gy s uc u es
by enhancing he equency o ene gy-sa ing echnology usage.
3. Models, a iables and da a
3.1. Models
To examine he in luence o human capi al on he household ene gy
consump ion s uc u e, his s udy selec s household ene gy consump ion
s uc u e as he dependen a iable, speci ically encompassing con-
sump ion o adi ional ene gy ( i ewood and cha coal), ansi ional
ene gy (coal, e ined oil), and ad anced ene gy (elec ici y, na u al gas,
sola ene gy). The co e independen a iable is human capi al. D awing
upon exis ing esea ch, his s udy es ablishes he ollowing econome ic
X. Li e al.
Sus ainable Fu u es 8 (2024) 100301
3
model:
h ec =
α
0=
α
1hc +
α
2hc2+
α
3X+
ε
1(1)
ec =β0+β1hc +β2hc2+β3X+
ε
2(2)
aec =γ0+γ1hc +γ2hc2+γ3X+
ε
3(3)
In Eqs. (1)-(3), h ec, ec, and aec ep esen household adi ional ene gy
consump ion, ansi ional ene gy consump ion, and ad anced ene gy
consump ion. Whe e, hc deno es human capi al, X ep esen s indi idual,
household, and egional cha ac e is ics in he sample and o he ac o s
in luencing household ene gy consump ion among a me s.
ε
1 and
ε
3 a e
andom dis u bance e ms, ep esen ing unobse able ac o s ollowing
a s anda d no mal dis ibu ion.
α
0, β0 and γ0 a e cons an e ms, and
α
1,
β1,γ1,
α
2,β2,γ2,
α
3,β3 and γ3 a e coe icien s o be es ima ed. The models
in Eqs. (1)-(3) may su e om endogenei y issues, such as he causal
ela ionship be ween human capi al and household ene gy consump ion
s uc u e among a me s and omi ed a iables. The e o e, his pape
adop s ins umen al a iables and employs ins umen al a iable es i-
ma ion me hods o mi iga e es ima ion biases caused by endogenei y
issues.
3.2. Va iables
3.2.1. Explained a iables
D awing on exis ing esea ch [52], his s udy selec s household
adi ional ene gy consump ion (yea s o i ewood and cha coal use),
ansi ional ene gy consump ion (pe capi a consump ion o coal and
pe oleum p oduc s), and ad anced ene gy consump ion (pe capi a
consump ion o na u al gas, elec ici y, and sola ene gy) o measu e
household ene gy consump ion s uc u e.
3.2.2. Key explana o y a iable
Following p e ious li e a u e [39], his pape employs he yea s o
educa ion o he head o household o measu e human capi al.
3.2.3. Media ing a iables
Based on heo e ical analysis ega ding he in luence o human
capi al on household ene gy consump ion s uc u e, his s udy selec s
media ing a iables, including household a o dabili y, en i onmen al
awa eness, and equency o ene gy-sa ing echnology usage.
2
House-
hold a o dabili y is measu ed by income le el, while en i onmen al
awa eness is measu ed by he willingness and deg ee o pa icipa ion in
en i onmen al go e nance.
3
3.2.4. Con ol a iables
Re e ing o exis ing esea ch [58], his pape con ols o o he
ac o s in luencing he ene gy s uc u e o a me households, including
he age, gende , educa ion le el, heal h s a us o he household head,
household size, pe capi a ne income, pe capi a expendi u e, housing
a ea, and whe he he household has illage cad es. Va iable de ini ions
and desc ip i e s a is ics a e de ailed in Table 2.
3.3. Da a
The da a used in his s udy a e sou ced om a ques ionnai e su ey
conduc ed by he esea ch eam in 2023 among co n g owe s in Shaanxi
P o ince. The esea ch eam chose he a me s in Shaanxi p o ince as
he esea ch objec s o he ollowing easons: On he one hand, Shaanxi
P o ince is a majo ene gy p o ince in China, wi h abundan coal,
na u al gas and wind ene gy esou ces, which makes he ene gy indus y
one o he pilla indus ies in he egion, and a he same ime aces a
se ies o challenges such as en i onmen al pollu ion and ene gy e i-
ciency. In ecen yea s, Shaanxi P o ince has igo ously p omo ed he
de elopmen o he ene gy and chemical indus y in he di ec ion o
clean and high-end, adop ed a se ies o measu es o p omo e ene gy
ans o ma ion, and in es ed in clean ene gy, especially wind and sola
powe gene a ion. In 2021, a o al o 6.07 million kW o 55 p ojec s will
be included in he gua an eed g id-connec ed scale o Shaanxi wind
powe and pho o ol aic powe gene a ion p ojec s in 2021.
4
On he
o he hand, human capi al is a necessa y condi ion o he mode niza-
ion o ag icul u e and u al a eas, and ac o s such as c edi cons ain s
in u al a eas and u ban-biased educa ional esou ce alloca ion policies
ha e widened he gap be ween u ban and u al human capi al, espe-
cially in Wes e n China. The e o e, his pape akes Shaanxi P o ince in
wes e n China as an example o explo e whe he u al human capi al
will a ec household ene gy consump ion and i s mechanism.
The esea ch eam unde ook ho ough p epa a ions be o e ield
in es iga ions, including ques ionnai e design and modi ica ion, expe
e iew, and p e-su eys. The o icial ield su ey commenced in May
2023. In he p ocess o sample selec ion, he esea ch eam adop ed a
mul i-s age sampling me hod in Shaanxi P o ince, which can be oughly
di ided in o h ee s ages: In he i s s age, he esea ch eam selec ed
Yulin and Yan’an in no he n Shaanxi, and Weinan and Tongchuan in
he Guanzhong egion as sample ci ies, conside ing egional di e ences
and economic de elopmen le els. In he second s age, he esea ch
eam andomly selec ed wo sample coun ies om each o he ou
sample ci ies and hen andomly selec ed wo sample ownships om
each o he eigh sample coun ies. In he hi d s age, he esea ch eam
andomly selec ed wo sample illages om each sample ownship,
Table 2
Summa y s a is ics.
Va iable N Explana ion Mean SD
Human capi al 791 Educa ion o household head (yea s) 6.517 3.753
T adi ional
ene gy
791 Use o uelwood (yea s) 42.93 18.01
T ansi ional
ene gy
791 Pe capi a coal consump ion ( /
yea )
0.429 0.507
791 Pe capi a e ined oil consump ion
(L/yea )
132.3 275.7
Ad anced ene gy 791 Pe capi a elec ici y consump ion
(KWH/yea )
612.2 850.3
791 pe capi a na u al gas consump ion
(m3 / yea )
78.68 246.1
791 Numbe o sola ene gy 0.489 0.556
Houshold
cha ac e is ics
791 Age o household head (yea s) 59.49 10.26
791 Gende o head o household:
male=1, emale=0
0.942 0.255
791 Head o household ma iage:
unma ied =1; ma ied =2; di o ce
=3; widowed =4
2.069 0.600
791 Head o household heal h:
incapaci y o wo k =0; di e ence
=1; medium =2; good =3;
ad an age =4
1.013 0.474
791 Household size (pe sons) 3.811 1.889
791 Pe capi a ne income (Yuan/yea ) 4192 377.7
791 Housing a ea (m2) 124.1 86.86
791 Whe he he e a e illage cad es a
home: yes =1; No =0
0.144 0.362
791 Leng h o esidence in he illage
(yea s)
52.36 16.02
2
F equency o ene gy-sa ing echnology usage is ep esen ed by "se ing he
ai condi ione o 26◦C o en i onmen al p o ec ion du ing ho summe s"
(ne e =1, occasionally=2, equen ly=3)
3
Belie ing illage s should pa icipa e in u al habi a en i onmen
imp o emen (s ongly disag ee=1; s ongly ag ee=5)
4
Compe i i e alloca ion esul s o wind powe and pho o ol aic powe
gene a ion gua an eed g id-connec ed p ojec s announced by Shaanxi Ene gy
Bu eau in 2021.
X. Li e al.
Sus ainable Fu u es 8 (2024) 100301
4
o aling 32 illages. Wi h he assis ance o illage cad es, in es iga o s
conduc ed ace- o- ace ques ionnai e su eys wi h 25 households
andomly selec ed om each sample illage.
The household eceip s ob ained om his ques ionnai e su ey
include cha ac e is ics o household heads, household cha ac e is ics,
and household ene gy consump ion pa e ns, wi h he da a yea being
2022. A o al o 800 ques ionnai es we e comple ed in his su ey. A e
excluding some missing da a and ou lie s, 791 alid ques ionnai es we e
ob ained, esul ing in an e ec i e ques ionnai e a e o 98.88 %.
4. Empi ical esul s
4.1. Baseline eg ession
As p e iously discussed, his pape posi s ha imp o ing human
capi al le els will enhance he household ene gy consump ion s uc u e.
To alida e his hypo hesis u he , he pape employs a coun model o
analyze he issue. A discussion and analysis o his p oblem aid in
cla i ying he s age o u al household ene gy ansi ion in China and
deepen unde s anding o subsequen household ene gy choices.
Acco ding o Table 3, in he linea model, human capi al signi i-
can ly impac s ene gy consump ion s uc u e. Speci ically, human cap-
i al has a signi ican posi i e e ec on ansi ional ene gy consump ion
and a signi ican nega i e e ec on ad anced ene gy consump ion. Non-
linea es esul s indica e ha he coe icien o he squa ed e m o
human capi al on ad anced ene gy consump ion is signi ican ly posi-
i e, combined wi h i s i s -o de coe icien being signi ican ly nega-
i e, indica ing a "U"-shaped end in household ad anced ene gy
consump ion conce ning he le el o human capi al.
This "U"-shaped ela ionship mani es s as ollows: when human
capi al le els a e low, and he e is no ex e nal adminis a i e in e -
en ion, esiden s, conside ing ene gy cos s, end o choose lowe -cos
o e en cos - ee i ewood [7]. As human capi al le els inc ease, esi-
den s’ incomes ise, and hey become mo e conce ned abou
en i onmen al p o ec ion and sus ainabili y. The e o e, esiden s g ad-
ually inc ease hei ene gy-e icien equipmen and op o
highe -quali y uels bu s ill need o abandon using poo e -quali y en-
e gy al oge he a his s age [3]. Howe e , when human capi al eaches
a ce ain le el, esiden s, conside ing a ious ac o s such as ime and
heal h cos s, abandon using low-quali y ene gy ha equi e long
collec ion imes, ha e low combus ion e iciency, and cause indoo
pollu ion [4]. Thus, imp o ing human capi al le els leads households o
educe he use o i ewood and inc ease he use o elec ici y, na u al
gas, and o he ad anced ene gy. This also indica es ha u al esiden s
op imize hei household ene gy s uc u es as human capi al le els
imp o e.
In he con ol a iables, gende signi ican ly impac s ad anced en-
e gy consump ion, sugges ing ha i he household head is emale, he e
is a g ea e inclina ion owa d choosing ad anced ene gy. The age o he
household head has a signi ican posi i e impac on adi ional ene gy
bu no signi ican impac on ansi ional and ad anced ene gy, indi-
ca ing ha olde household heads end o use adi ional ene gy. Be e
heal h condi ions a e associa ed wi h a g ea e inclina ion owa ds
selec ing ad anced ene gy. Residen s wi h be e heal h condi ions a e
mo e likely o ocus on en i onmen al and long- e m heal h issues, and
ene gy help educe en i onmen al pollu ion, imp o e ai quali y, and
consequen ly imp o e lung and o e all heal h [6]. Va iables such as
whe he he household head is a illage cad e, du a ion o esidence,
and ma i al s a us show no signi ican di e ences in ene gy choices.
Mo e ex ended plan ing pe iods lead o a g ea e endency o choose
adi ional ene gy. This is because households wi h mo e ex ended
plan ing pe iods ha e accumula ed abundan i ewood, hus educing
he need o addi ional ene gy pu chases, and adi ional ene gy like
i ewood a e cos -sa ing compa ed o pu chasing o he ene gy [21]. The
mo e signi ican he household size, he mo e he inclina ion owa ds
ansi ional and ad anced ene gy. La ge housing a eas co espond o
less use o adi ional ene gy. La ge housing a eas ypically en ail
highe ene gy demands o hea ing, ligh ing, and cooking, which
adi ional ene gy like i ewood canno adequa ely mee [42].
4.2. Robus ness es
The empi ical esul s abo e indica e ha imp o ing human capi al
signi ican ly enhances household ene gy consump ion s uc u e. This
pape a emp s wo obus ness es s o ensu e he esea ch indings’
c edibili y u he .
4.2.1. Replacemen o explained a iables
D awing om exis ing li e a u e [5], his pape employs he numbe
o ene gy a ie ies used o cha ac e ize he imp o emen o household
ene gy consump ion s uc u e, he eby eplacing he dependen a iable
o obus ness es ing. The esul s o he es s in Table 4 show ha highe
le els o educa ion a e associa ed wi h using a g ea e a ie y o ene gy
ypes among a me s. On he one hand, he e is an inc ease in in o -
ma ion acquisi ion and cogni i e le els: a me s wi h highe le els o
educa ion a e mo e likely o acqui e a ious in o ma ion, including
di e en ypes o ene gy supply, usage me hods, and bene i s. They ha e
a deepe unde s anding o ene gy and, hus, a e mo e willing o y
di e en ene gy a ie ies o mee di e en needs [43]. On he o he
hand, indi iduals wi h highe le els o educa ion may be mo e con-
ce ned abou en i onmen al issues and sus ainable de elopmen . They
may be mo e willing o y enewable ene gy such as sola and wind
ene gy o educe en i onmen al impac . The e o e, hey may ha e a
mo e di e si ied app oach o ene gy selec ion [23].
4.2.2. Replacemen o explana o y a iables
A he indi idual le el, human capi al is ou wa dly mani es ed by
indi iduals’ knowledge, skills, and quali ies. D awing om exis ing
esea ch [8,25], household a e age yea s o educa ion and household
aining expendi u es a e selec ed o de ine human capi al, namely
Table 3
Baseline eg ession esul s.
Va iables Ma ginal e ec
T adi ional
ene gy
T ansi ional
ene gy
Ad anced
ene gy
(1) (2) (3)
Human capi al −1.147* 0.079*** −0.071**
(0.662) (0.038) (0.042)
(Human capi al) x
(Human capi al)
0.040 0.027 0.0020***
(0.051) (0.018) (0.0110)
Gende 5.777 −0.019 −2.217***
(3.717) (1.335) (0.799)
Age 0.350** 0.034 0.012
(0.144) (0.052) (0.031)
Heal h 0.520 −0.191 0.656***
(0.676) (0.243) (0.145)
Whe he illage cad e −2.397 −0.588 0.260
(2.554) (0.917) (0.549)
Leng h o esidence in he
illage
0.201** 0.069** 0.045**
(0.085) (0.031) (0.018)
Plan ing yea s 0.173* −0.044 0.026
(0.093) (0.034) (0.020)
Ma iage 4.173 0.543 0.229
(1.521) (0.546) (0.327)
Family size −0.528 0.524*** 0.371***
(0.476) (0.171) (0.102)
Housing a ea −0.022** 0.002 0.002
(0.010) (0.004) (0.002)
Cons an 3.871 5.908* 6.091***
(9.323) (3.348) (2.005)
Obse a ions 791 791 791
R-squa ed 0.144 0.058 0.085
S anda d e o s in pa en heses, *** p <0.01, ** p <0.05, * p <0.1.
X. Li e al.
Sus ainable Fu u es 8 (2024) 100301
5
educa ion and aining human capi al, o obus ness es ing. Since he
a iable " aining human capi al" in he esea ch eam is a dummy
a iable ("whe he ecei ed ag icul u al echnology educa ion o
aining": yes=1, no=0), an in e ac ion e m be ween human capi al and
skills aining is used o measu e he le el o human capi al and explo e
i s impac on household ene gy consump ion.
The esul s o he es s in Table 5 show ha a e eplacing he
explana o y a iables, he impac o human capi al on adi ional ene gy
emains signi ican ly nega i e, is signi ican ly posi i e o ansi ional
ene gy wi h a ma ginal diminishing e ec , and is signi ican ly posi i e
o ad anced ene gy. I is e iden ha he di e ence om he baseline
eg ession esul s is no subs an ial, indica ing ha he baseline
eg ession is obus .
4.3. Mechanism es
To u he de e mine how human capi al imp o es household ene gy
s uc u e, his pape examines h ee aspec s: a o dabili y, en i on-
men al awa eness, and equency o ene gy-sa ing echnology usage.
The esul s o he es s in Table 6 indica e ha inc eased human capi al
signi ican ly enhances a me s’ a o dabili y, en i onmen al awa eness,
and equency o ene gy-sa ing echnology usage. Combining he esul s
om Table 7, i is e iden ha imp o emen s in a o dabili y, en i on-
men al awa eness, and ene gy-sa ing echnology usage equency in-
c ease he usage o ansi ional and ad anced ene gy. Addi ionally,
en i onmen al awa eness and he equency o ene gy-sa ing echnol-
ogy usage signi ican ly educe he usage o adi ional ene gy. The in-
c ease in human capi al enhances indi idual compe i i eness in he job
ma ke , leading o mo e employmen oppo uni ies and highe income
le els [16]. Mo eo e , highe le els o human capi al usually imply
be e educa ion and aining, making a me s mo e likely o unde s and
he impo ance o en i onmen al issues and sus ainable de elopmen ,
he eby enhancing en i onmen al awa eness [19]. Finally, highe le els
o human capi al ypically en ail mo e igo ous lea ning and adap a ion
abili ies, making a me s mo e likely o unde s and he bene i s o
ene gy-sa ing echnologies and willing o adop hem, encou aging
mo e ac i e usage o ene gy-sa ing echnologies [46]. Highe -income
le els enable households o a o d ela i ely expensi e bu mo e e i-
cien ansi ional and ad anced ene gy. Fu he mo e, wi h inc eased
en i onmen al awa eness and equency o ene gy-sa ing echnology
adop ion, a me s may eel a g ea e sense o social esponsibili y and
hus be mo e inclined o choose ansi ional, ad anced ene gy wi h
lesse en i onmen al impac . Hypo hesis H2a-H2c a e e i ied.
4.4. Endogenous ea men : IV es ima e
Al hough human capi al signi ican ly imp o es household ene gy
consump ion s uc u e, endogenei y issues may in luence his esul .
Po en ial endogenei y mainly s ems om wo aspec s: omission a i-
ables, such as geog aphical loca ion, whe e households in colde egions
a e mo e likely o use high-quali y ene gy like elec ici y, which may
lead o biased es ima ion esul s. Second is e e se causali y, whe e he
Table 4
Tes esul s o human capi al on he numbe o uel ypes.
Va iables Ma ginal e ec
(1)
Human capi al 0.007**
(0.025)
(Human capi al) x (Human capi al) 0.001**
(0.002)
Gende 0.014
(0.143)
Age −0.016***
(0.005)
Heal h 0.065***
(0.026)
Whe he illage cad e 0.089
(0.108)
Leng h o esidence in he illage 0.005
(0.004)
Plan ing yea s −0.008***
0.002
Ma iage 0.095**
(0.045)
Family size 0.047***
(0.017)
Housing a ea −0.000
(0.000)
Cons an 3.101***
(0.336)
Obse a ions 791
R-squa ed 0.050
Robus s anda d e o s in pa en heses, *** p <0.01, ** p <0.05, * p <0.1.
Table 5
Tes esul s o al e na i e explana o y a iables.
Va iables Ma ginal e ec
T adi ional
ene gy
T ansi ional
ene gy
Ad anced
ene gy
(1) (2) (3)
(Human capi al) x (Skills
aining)
−0.838** 0.155*** 0.033**
(0.181) (0.041) (0.005)
((Human capi al) x (Skills
aining))
2
0.059 0.0519*** 0.002
(0.039) (0.004) (0.009)
Gende 6.029 0.07149 −2.208**
(3.685) (1.273) (0.857)
Age 0.497*** 0.022 0.029
(0.108) (0.040) (0.022)
Heal h 0.646 −0.273 0.691***
(0.667) (0.240) (0.143)
Whe he illage cad e −2.341 −0.905 0.217
(2.179) (0.866) (0.598)
Leng h o esidence in he
illage
0.236*** 0.049* 0.052***
(0.073) (0.028) (0.016)
Plan ing yea s 0.532*** −0.004 −0.047***
(0.063) (0.023) (0.014)
Ma iage 4.275*** 0.496 0.388
(1.203) (0.452) (0.309)
Family size −0.541 0.464** 0.363***
(0.426) (0.183) (0.109)
Housing a ea −0.021** 0.003 0.001
(0.012) (0.002) (0.007)
Cons an −5.138 1.262 6.662***
(7.753) (2.793) (1.727)
Obse a ions 791 791 791
R-squa ed 0.134 0.047 0.055
Robus s anda d e o s in pa en heses, *** p <0.01, ** p <0.05, * p <0.1.
Table 6
Resul s o mechanism es I.
Va iable A o dabili y En i onmen al
awa eness
F equency o ene gy-
sa ing echnology
usage
(1) (2) (3)
Human capi al 0.158*** 0.009** 0.004**
(0.007) (0.002) (0.001)
(Human capi al) x
(Human capi al)
−0.990 0.001* 0.000
(0.651) (0.000) (0.001)
Con ol a iables yes yes yes
Cons an −265.5** 3.503*** 2.700***
(125.1) (0.459) (0.255)
Obse a ions 791 791 791
R2 0.011 0.030 0.004
Robus s anda d e o s in pa en heses, *** p <0.01, ** p <0.05, * p <0.1.
X. Li e al.
Sus ainable Fu u es 8 (2024) 100301
6
cleanliness o household ene gy usage may ha e a e e se e ec on
human capi al. Ru al households ypically ha e limi ed budge s, pa o
which is alloca ed o pu chasing ene gy such as uel and elec ici y. I
households need o spend a signi ican po ion o hei unds o mee
ene gy needs, hey may educe expendi u es in o he a eas, limi ing
in es men s in educa ion o aining. The e o e, po en ial e e se cau-
sali y may esul in biased es ima ion esul s.
To add ess he abo e endogenei y issues, he pape employs ins u-
men al a iable analysis. D awing om exis ing li e a u e [12], his
pape selec s "dis ance o he nea es p ima y school" as he ins umen al
a iable o human capi al. When households a e close o p ima y
schools, he con enience o a ending school inc eases, making i mo e
likely o indi iduals o ecei e educa ion. Thus, he ins umen al a i-
able in his pape sa is ies he ele ance condi ion. Fu he mo e, he
dis ance be ween households and p ima y schools is unlikely o a ec
household ene gy consump ion s uc u e di ec ly bu may indi ec ly
impac i h ough he household’s human capi al. Thus, he ins umen al
a iable in his pape sa is ies he exogenei y condi ion. The e o e,
selec ing "dis ance o he nea es p ima y school" as he ins umen al
a iable is easonable.
Table 8 epo s he esul s o he wo-s age leas squa es eg ession.
The i s -s age eg ession esul s indica e ha he ins umen al a iable
is signi ican ly posi i ely co ela ed wi h he po en ial endogenous
a iable a he 1 % le el, indica ing ha he ins umen al a iable sa -
is ies he ele ance condi ion. The i s -s age F- alue is 17.66, indica ing
he absence o weak ins umen al a iables. The second-s age eg ession
esul s show ha he coe icien di ec ion and signi icance o ene gy
consump ion emain consis en wi h he baseline eg ession esul s,
indica ing ha e en a e add essing endogenei y issues, human capi al
s ill signi ican ly p omo es household ene gy consump ion s uc u e,
u he alida ing hypo hesis 1.
4.5. Fu he analysis
To u he analyze he impac o human capi al on household ene gy
consump ion s uc u e, his s udy, e e encing exis ing li e a u e [14],
explo es he e ec s o amily membe s’ educa ional a ainmen le els on
household ene gy consump ion. Speci ically, i examines he p o-
po ions o indi iduals wi h educa ional le els anging om p ima y
school o below, junio high school, senio high school (including
oca ional school), o college o abo e on household ene gy consump-
ion. Addi ionally, conside ing he di e ences in educa ion, skills, li e-
s yles, and esou ce access among households wi h di e en income
le els, which may in luence hei ene gy needs and choices [47], he
pape u he in es iga es he impac o human capi al on household
ene gy consump ion s uc u e wi h di e en amily demog aphic
s uc u e and income le els.
4.5.1. Family demog aphic s uc u e
The esul s in Table 9 indica e ha indi iduals wi h p ima y school
educa ion o below signi ican ly inc ease consump ion o adi ional and
ansi ional ene gy. Indi iduals wi h junio and senio high school ed-
uca ion le els con ibu e o inc eased consump ion o ansi ional and
ad anced ene gy. A he same ime, senio high school educa ion le els
also signi ican ly educe consump ion o adi ional ene gy among
households. Fu he mo e, indi iduals wi h a college o highe educa ion
Table 7
Resul s o mechanism es II.
Va iable T adi ional
ene gy
T ansi ional
ene gy
Ad anced
ene gy
(1) (2) (3)
A o dabili y 0.006 0.002*** 0.000**
(0.005) (0.001) (0.000)
En i onmen al awa eness −1.604** 0.748** 0.767***
(1.070) (0.338) (0.204)
F equency o ene gy-sa ing
echnology usage
−2.627** 2.107*** 0.556**
(1.280) (0.625) (0.163)
Con ol a iables yes yes yes
Cons an −7.223 9.693** 4.882
(11.38) (4.667) (3.028)
Obse a ions 791 791 791
R2 0.147 0.078 0.127
Robus s anda d e o s in pa en heses, *** p <0.01, ** p <0.05, * p <0.1.
Table 8
Endogenous ea men : Es ima ion o ins umen al a iables.
Va iable The i s
s age
The second s age
Human
capi al
T adi ional
ene gy
T ansi ional
ene gy
Ad anced
ene gy
(1) (2) (3) (4)
Human capi al −0.183*** 0.088*** 0.003**
(0.021) (0.004) (0.001)
(Human capi al) x
(Human capi al)
0.103 0.068* 0.001**
(0.152) (0.043) (0.000)
dis ance o he
nea es p ima y
school
0.015***
(0.01)
Con ol a iables yes yes yes yes
Cons an 6.784*** 1.746 4.331* 10.255***
(0.23) (1.44) (3.79) (1.55)
Obse a ions 791 791 791 791
The i s s age F 17.66***
R
2
0.026 0.023 0.017
Table 9
Es ima es o he impac o di e en educa ion le els o household popula ion on
ene gy consump ion s uc u e.
Va iable Ma ginal e ec
T adi ional
ene gy
T ansi ional
ene gy
Ad anced
ene gy
(1) (2) (3)
The p opo ion o people wi h
p ima y school educa ion o
below
0.262** 0.084** 0.427
(0.011) (0.016) (0.205)
(The p opo ion o people wi h
p ima y school educa ion o
below)
2
−0.819 −1.459 −1.388
(0.991) (2.233) (1.831)
The p opo ion o junio high
school educa ion
0.78 0.514* 0.544**
(0.91) (0.220) (0.189)
(The p opo ion o junio high
school educa ion)
2
−3.192 0.181** −3.615
(10.25) (0.018) (2.360)
P opo ion o people wi h high
school educa ion (including
echnical seconda y schools)
−3.361*** 0.392* 0.255**
(1.279) (0.436) (0.123)
(P opo ion o people wi h high
school educa ion (including
echnical seconda y schools))
2
−3.12* 4.749 4.844
(1.54) (7.232) (4.879)
The p opo ion o people wi h
college deg ee o abo e
−3.075 1.446 0.618**
(6.08) (4.603) (0.014)
(The p opo ion o people wi h
college deg ee o abo e)
2
−0.970** 3.322 2.943
(8.066) (3.739) (3.026)
Con ol a iables yes yes yes
Cons an −12.840 −1.863 2.700
(17.030) (7.123) (4.042)
Obse a ions 791 791 791
R2 0.154 0.071 0.100
Robus s anda d e o s in pa en heses, *** p <0.01, ** p <0.05, * p <0.1.
X. Li e al.
Sus ainable Fu u es 8 (2024) 100301
7
signi ican ly enhance he consump ion o ad anced ene gy. The analysis
sugges s ha households a e mo e inclined o choose ansi ional and
ad anced ene gy as educa ional le els inc ease. Mo eo e , u he
analysis indica es ha he impac o senio high school educa ion on
ene gy consump ion s uc u e is mos simila o he baseline eg ession
esul . Because middle and high school educa ion usually co e s basic
scien i ic knowledge and en i onmen al educa ion, i is easie o in-
di iduals o unde s and he impo ance o en i onmen al issues and he
nega i e en i onmen al impac s o adi ional ene gy sou ces. This un-
de s anding makes hem mo e inclined o choose en i onmen ally
iendly ansi ion ene gy and high-quali y ene gy when choosing en-
e gy. This also sugges s o policymake s ha educa ion may be an
impo an way o p omo e he ene gy ansi ion. By s eng hening ed-
uca ion, especially in ela ion o he en i onmen and ene gy, socie y
can be guided owa ds sus ainable de elopmen . The e o e, policy-
make s need o conside imp o ing educa ion le els while ensu ing ha
low-income and low-educa ion popula ions ha e access o ad anced
ene gy oppo uni ies.
4.5.2. Income le els
D awing om exis ing esea ch [30], households wi h income le els
g ea e han he median income a e conside ed high-income house-
holds, while hose below he median income a e conside ed low-income
households. The esul s o he es s in Table 10 indica e ha o
households wi h di e en income le els, an inc ease in human capi al
signi ican ly supp esses hei consump ion o adi ional ene gy and
inc eases hei consump ion o ansi ional ene gy. Fo high-income
households, an inc ease in human capi al le el also signi ican ly im-
pac s he consump ion o ad anced ene gy. This sugges s ha he sig-
ni ican inc ease in ad anced ene gy consump ion is p ima ily due o
inc eased human capi al among high-income households. High-income
households imply s onge a o dabili y, so hey can a o d mo e
expensi e bu ad anced ene gy, consis en wi h he ea lie analysis.
5. Conclusion and policy implica ions
Based on he su ey da a om 791 households in Shaanxi P o ince in
2023, his s udy sys ema ically e alua es he impac o human capi al on
he ene gy consump ion s uc u e o u al households and i s unde lying
mechanisms. I also explo es how di e en le els o educa ion among
household membe s in luence he selec ion o adi ional, ansi ional,
and ad anced ene gy and he di e ences a ising om a ying house-
hold income le els. The s udy e eals he ollowing indings: (1) Human
capi al can signi ican ly educe adi ional ene gy consump ion while
inc easing he use o ansi ional and high-quali y ene gy sou ces. This
conclusion emains obus a e obus ness checks and ins umen al
a iable ea men s. Exis ing li e a u es mainly ocus on he in luence o
geog aphical loca ion and socio-cul u al ac o s, household size and
economic s a us, and ene gy p ices and policies on household ene gy
consump ion s uc u e. Hence, his pape p o ides a new pe spec i e o
imp o ing he ene gy consump ion s uc u e o a me s. (2) The esul s
o he mechanism analysis indica e ha human capi al p omo es he
ansi ion om adi ional o ansi ional and high-quali y ene gy
sou ces by enhancing households’ paymen capaci y, en i onmen al
awa eness, and equency o ene gy-sa ing echnology usage. This
sugges s ha he ene gy s acking heo y applies in u al China, whe e an
inc ease in household income acili a es he ansi ion and upg ading o
ene gy consump ion. (3) Compa ed o exis ing li e a u e, his s udy also
inds ha he highe he le el o educa ion, he mo e likely u al
households a e o shi om consuming adi ional ene gy o ansi ional
and high-quali y ene gy sou ces. In pa icula , a high school educa ion
signi ican ly inc eases he consump ion o ansi ional and high-quali y
ene gy while signi ican ly educing adi ional ene gy consump ion. (4)
Compa ed o low-income households, he e ec o human capi al on
inc easing he consump ion o high-quali y ene gy is signi ican ly pos-
i i e o high-income households. The e o e, policymake s need o
conside imp o ing educa ion le els while ensu ing ha low-income
and low-educa ion popula ions ha e access o ad anced ene gy
oppo uni ies.
Based on he abo e conclusions, his s udy de i es he ollowing
policy implica ions. Fi s ly, policymake s should enhance in es men in
educa ional esou ces, pa icula ly u al a eas, o imp o e esiden s’
educa ion le els and skill aining. This will help inc ease hei pu -
chasing powe , en i onmen al awa eness, and he equency o ene gy-
sa ing echnologies, he eby acili a ing he ansi ion and upg ading o
ene gy consump ion. Secondly, policies should suppo and p omo e he
adop ion o cleane and mo e e icien ene gy sou ces h ough subsidies
and incen i e mechanisms, encou aging households o shi om
adi ional o ansi ional and high-quali y ene gy sou ces, he eby
educing hei dependence on con en ional ene gy. Fu he mo e, gi en
ha he e ec o human capi al on he consump ion o high-quali y
ene gy is mo e p onounced in high-income households, policy design
should conside he needs o amilies wi h di e en income le els. Mo e
suppo should be p o ided o low-income households, such as h ough
subsidies o low-in e es loans, o help hem access and u ilize cleane
ene gy, he eby na owing he gap in ene gy consump ion ansi ions
be ween low- and high-income amilies. Las ly, policies should ocus on
imp o ing he educa ion le els o u al esiden s, mainly h ough he
expansion and p omo ion o high school educa ion. This would no only
enhance esiden s’ en i onmen al awa eness and pu chasing powe bu
also u he p omo e he op imiza ion o ene gy consump ion s uc u es
in u al a eas.
A he same ime, his s udy has ce ain limi a ions. On he one hand,
i employs su ey da a om he esea ch eam in 2023 o in es iga e he
impac o non- a m employmen on household ene gy consump ion.
Howe e , analyzing his issue using mul i-pe iod panel da a could be e
add ess po en ial endogenei y issues in he model. The e o e, in u u e
esea ch, he esea ch eam will conside using acking da a, combining
Table 10
Es ima ion esul s o human capi al on ene gy consump ion s uc u e o households wi h di e en incomes.
Va iable Ma ginal e ec
Low-income amily High-income amily
T adi ional ene gy T ansi ional ene gy Ad anced ene gy T adi ional ene gy T ansi ional ene gy Ad anced ene gy
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Human capi al −1.525* 0.089*** 0.143 −0.667 0.213** 0.018**
−0.87 −0.007 −0.173 −1.06 −0.045 −0.003
(Human capi al) x (Human capi al) 0.063 0.030 0.005 −0.020*** 0.040 0.009**
−0.065 −0.022 −0.013 −0.000 −0.036 −0.001
Con ol a iables yes yes yes yes yes yes
Cons an −7.221 7.602 4.078 10.910 4.900 7.947***
−14.190 −4.687 −2.829 −12.100 −5.083 −2.884
Obse a ions 791 791 791 791 791 791
R2 0.146 0.074 0.132 0.162 0.084 0.039
S anda d e o s in pa en heses, *** p <0.01, ** p <0.05, * p <0.1.
X. Li e al.
Sus ainable Fu u es 8 (2024) 100301
8
