Socio-technical drivers of energy use in low-income housing in Jordan: insights from a regression-based study

Abstract

The residential sector in Jordan accounts for 61% of national primary energy consumption, with low-income households contributing substantially to this demand. However, empirical evidence on household energy use remains scarce. This study draws on survey data from nearly 400 households in Amman to identify key determinants of energy consumption. Data on building attributes, household characteristics, and energy-related behaviours were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple linear regression were employed to assess how these factors influence energy consumption. Four regression models were tested: building characteristics (e.g. floor area, thermal performance); household attributes (e.g. household size, age composition); energy-related behaviour (e.g. heating-and-cooling patterns, sociocultural practices); and a combined model, against energy expenditure as the dependent variable. Building factors explained 9.6% of the variance in energy expenditure, while household characteristics and behavioural factors accounted for 40.2% and 30.3%, respectively. Air-conditioner ownership emerged as the strongest predictor, followed by the presence of young adults, heating-and-cooling duration, number of cooling devices, and daylight quality. This study represents one of the first empirical assessments of how building and occupant-related factors collectively influence household energy demand, providing an evidence-based foundation for future research and policy in Jordan and comparable contexts across the Global South.