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Migration Consequences for Household Energy Consumption in a Nonmetropolitan Recreation‐Retirement Area 1
Author(s) -
Fuguitt Glenn V.,
Heberlein Thomas A.,
Rathbun Pamela R.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
rural sociology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.083
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1549-0831
pISSN - 0036-0112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1549-0831.1991.tb00427.x
Subject(s) - metropolitan area , recreation , consumption (sociology) , energy consumption , electricity , rural area , demographic economics , agricultural economics , geography , economics , business , socioeconomics , sociology , ecology , political science , engineering , social science , archaeology , law , electrical engineering , biology
We consider here the energy consumption characteristics of migrants and nonmigrants in two northern Wisconsin counties characterized by relatively rapid growth as areas of retirement and recreational activities. Migrants from metropolitan areas use more electricity when measured at the meter and report driving more. Both of these differentials are sustained even after controlling for personal and behavioral variables, appliance ownership, and type of energy use. Metropolitan migrants do not spend more for space heating, although there is again a positive effect on space heating energy consumption net of the other variables. We conclude that metropolitan migrants make an energy impact on the area, due in part, to their characteristics, housing, and type of energy consumption, but also because of differences in the way they use energy. In these ways they add an element of heterogeneity to the rural community, as well as increased demand for energy consumption.