| Popis: |
Demographic and economic growth will account for most of the anticipated growth ingreenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the next century. Education is associated withdevelopment, and the world population in the near future is likely to be significantly bettereducated than today. Previous studies of household energy demand and associatedemissions have not directly considered the consequences of a more educated population. Inthis study, I estimate the energy intensity of consumption dollars and the total impact ofhouseholds according to their demographic characteristics, with particular attention todifferences in spending habits by education and the environmental consequences. I findthat education results in fewer emissions per household, holding other householdcharacteristics constant. Each year of education is associated with an average effect inCO2-equivalent (CO2e) emission of -466kg/yr. After controlling for householdcharacteristics, the effect of a year of education is -163.1kg per year. Educated householdsspend less on home energy and transportation by car, two of the most important sources ofhousehold level atmospheric GHG production. They spend relatively more on investmentgoods, public transport, and other activities which have a low environmental footprint. |
