Determinants of Sustainable Energy Saving Behavior among University Students in Malaysia: A Case Study of Management & Science University (MSU)

The increasing energy demand and its impact on climate change pose serious challenges to environmental sustainability. University students, as future leaders and decision-makers, have the potential to adopt and promote sustainable energy-saving behavior in their communities. However, the factors influencing their energy-saving practices are poorly understood, especially in the Malaysian context. Using a cross-sectional survey design, this research examines the factors influencing energy-saving behavior among students of MSU. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to MSU students, covering demographic details and variables related to energy-saving behavior and its determinants. The study employed stratified random sampling and used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) for data analysis. The results show that social norms and perceived control over students’ behaviors are the only significant factors affecting sustainable behavior to save energy among students. At the same time, environmental awareness, energy literacy, and personal attitudes have no significant effect. Social norms are the strongest driver of energy-saving behavior, followed by perceived behavioral control. The findings suggest that interventions and policies to foster sustainable energy-saving behavior among students should focus on enhancing social norms and perceived behavioral control. This research fills the knowledge gap by offering specific insight into sustainable energy-saving behavior among Malaysian university students.