Energy conservation attitudes and intentions: investigating place attachment in Eastern Transylvania, Romania (Actitudes e intenciones respecto al ahorro de energía: investigando el apego al lugar en Transilvania Oriental, Rumanía)

ABSTRACT This study explores the relationship between place attachment and energy conservation attitudes and behavioural intentions in the Pogány-havas microregion of Romania. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine three dimensions of place attachment: place identity, place dependence and nature bonding. While place attachment in the region is high, structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed negative links between place dependence and energy conservation attitudes and between place identity and behavioural intention. However, insignificant regression weights between the constructs suggest there are many unexplained factors that mediate the relationship between place attachment and energy attitudes and behavioural intentions in this region. These results suggest that future research on rural energy transitions should take a systemic perspective that includes additional constraints (e.g., material and structural) that may better explain how individuals develop energy attitudes and behaviours.