Sutherland, Catherine GraceMathathu, Takunda Joseph.2023-08-032023-08-0320162016https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/handle/10413/22083Master’s Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Energy is a critical aspect of contemporary society, almost everything that is used by people in households, workplaces and at schools requires energy to keep functioning. However, inefficient energy usage has negative impacts on the environment. The current energy and environmental crisis have been attributed to the over consumption of energy. As a result, there is a widely growing recognition that energy conservation practices can play a critical role in addressing the prevailing energy crisis. Conservation practices are influenced and supported by pro-environmental attitudes and behaviour. It is on this note that this study sought to explore the energy conservation knowledge, attitudes and behavior of students residing in the on-campus residences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). The study employed the mixed methods approach where the questionnaires were used to quantify students’ practices and the in-depth interviews explored their attitudes towards energy consumption. Students were randomly selected to complete the energy-questionnaires but purposive sampling was used to select key knowledgeable participants who had resided in the University residences for more than four years. The study was framed around Ecological Citizenship theory which examines the role that ordinary citizens can play in the mitigation of environmental issues. The literature and case studies reviewed, showed that ‘green campus’ initiatives within universities are playing an important but often overlooked role in reducing the carbon footprint. Nevertheless, data gathered from the study portrayed a negative and discourteous attitude towards energy usage by UKZN students. The study also revealed that students were willing to conserve energy if their efforts were rewarded with incentives, particularly a reduction in their residential fees. University fees play a crucial role in shaping students’ attitudes and behaviour such that most students felt that they were entitled to use electricity anyhow because they would had paid for it. Therefore, the study saw the need for the university to introduce environmental education so that students look beyond the monetary benefits associated with saving energy. The study noted that it is important for the university to provide energy-feedbacks to the students so that they become aware of the difference they can make when they conserve energy within the university.enGreen campus initiatives.Environment.Thesis