Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1987

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural Extension

Major Professor

Cecil E. Carter Jr.

Committee Members

Roy Lessly, Maxine McManus

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to examine the energy conserva-tion practices of the homemakers and to look at the characteristics of the home and the characteristics of the homemaker as related to the use of recommended energy conservation practices. A major concern of the study was to determine relationships between the contacts the homemaker had with the Agricultural Extension Service and their use of 14 energy conservation practices. An underlying purpose of this study was to provide information that might be used to plan and implement educational programs for the Extension clientele in Tennessee. The population of the study included Extension homemakers club members and general homemakers in 89 Tennessee counties. The "nth" number technique was used to randomly select 30 Extension homemaker club members and 40 general homemakers. The major findings of the study indicated: 1. A higher percentage of the homemakers who lived in urban homes, compared to those who lived in rural farm and rural non-farm homes, had a home energy audit conducted. 2. Homemakers who were married were members of EHC, had larger families, were under 60 years of age, and had adequate income were more likely to have conducted a home energy audit. 3. Homemakers who had one or more contacts with the Extension agent by way of meetings, office visits, telephone calls, letters, publications or radio programs were more apt to have an energy audit conducted than those who did not have contacts with the Extension agent. 4. Homemakers who lived in newer homes in the rural farm area for 10 years or less were less likely to have insulation recommended for the home after the energy audit was conducted. 5. The age of the dwelling, number of people in the household, and family income was significantly related to whether or not insulation was installed in the home. The location of dwelling, years lived in dwelling, marital status, employment status, age of the homemaker and ECH membership were not related to whether insulation was installed by the homemaker. There was no relationship between whether or not homemakers had Extension contacts and adding insulation. 6. Homemakers who lived in their home less than 30 years and the homes were less than 30 years old tended to use more of the energy conservation practices. Homemakers that were employed, married, with larger families, below the age of 60, were EHC members and had contacts with Extension agent used more of the 14 home energy conservation practices. 7. Homemakers were more likely to live in homes that had ceiling insulation than homes that had the floors of their homes insulated.

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