Altruistic values drive energy conservation, but habits and conditions hinder action.
Encouraging energy-saving habits is important for saving energy. A study of college students in Beijing found that values influence beliefs about energy conservation, which then affect personal norms. Altruistic and biospheric values lead to energy-saving behaviors, while egocentric values do not. However, personal norms do not always translate into actual energy-saving actions. Individual habits and external conditions do not always help turn personal norms into energy-saving behaviors.