Low-Carbon Lifestyles: Household Energy Consumption Driven by Culture—Evidence from Chinese Residents (CHFS Data)

Most studies on household energy consumption focus on formal factors like income, prices, and technology, while paying little attention to whether informal institutions such as culture have a genuine causal impact. Using 2015 CHFS data, we examine the effect of traditional culture on household energy intensity and find that treated households show 29.7% lower per capita carbon emissions in log points relative to controls. To trace how this effect works, we look at five behavioral channels: stronger green awareness that encourages everyday conservation, a shift from private cars to low-carbon transport, movement in consumption patterns from goods toward services, less plastic use in daily routines, and a higher saving propensity that reduces immediate spending. Together, these pathways translate cultural norms into actual energy savings. We then test for moderating effects. Central Environmental Inspection, local government spending on environmental protection and publicity, and household income and education all positively moderate the cultural effect, suggesting that formal regulations and informal cultural norms reinforce each other rather than operate in isolation. These findings point to a concrete way of turning cultural heritage into practical tools for energy governance, offering micro-level evidence that can inform the ongoing effort to decouple economic growth from carbon emissions.