Context matters: understanding energy-conservation behaviors in Chinese educational buildings through environmental perception and external factors

Purpose Occupants' energy-conservation behaviors (ECBs) have been emphasized to improve energy efficiency. This study aims to assess the mechanisms of ECBs in educational buildings by incorporating individuals' environmental perception (environmental knowledge (EK) and awareness of consequences (AWC)) and external physical environmental factors (occupancy and indoor environment quality (IEQ)) into the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model. Design/methodology/approach This study collected data from 369 occupants in Chinese educational buildings via a questionnaire survey and analyzed them using partial least squares structural equation modeling and a hierarchical regression model. Findings This study finds that EK and AWC not only directly contribute to ECBs but also exert their influence indirectly by shaping individuals' behavioral intentions, indicating that cultivating intention is crucial for translating knowledge and awareness into action. Besides, the extent to which EK translates into ECBs is conditional on the occupancy level. The effectiveness of awareness in promoting ECBs is contingent upon the quality of the indoor environment. Occupancy and indoor environment quality also act as moderators in the relationship between intention and ECBs. Together, this study provides a nuanced understanding of the psychological and environmental factors driving ECBs. Originality/value Previous studies about ECBs mainly focused on the effects of occupants' psychological factors while neglecting the impacts of their environmental perception and physical environments. More importantly, there is limited research about ECBs in educational buildings, despite being the third most energy-intensive. The findings are not only an echo of TPB but also shed light on the theoretical contributions to the literature about environmental perception, external environment and ECBs. This study may facilitate decision-makers in universities and governments to design effective energy interventions.