"West is best" trends in the Philippines:: the impact of lifestyle choices on household energy consumption patterns

Abstract

This paper explores the link between consumer lifestyle choices and household electricity consumption in Metro Manila, the Philippines. It addresses the topic of energy and development through a multi-disciplinary and systemic approach that combines environmental considerations with a social understanding of consumption. Consumption tends to be treated at the geographically bounded level of a nation or a region, whereas certain consumption patterns stem from globalization or the increased flow of people, ideas and remittances. Trends in the “west” can influence lifestyle choices in the “south”, which leads to challenges but also presents opportunities for transitions towards more sustainable forms of energy consumption.