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This paper explores ways to save energy in households with energy prosumers who generate energy using photovoltaic panels and heat pumps. On the basis of a literature analysis, we formulated a research gap in the case of the energy behaviors of prosumers. This research is important due to the growing demand for energy and the transitions of countries toward renewable energy sources. The role of prosumers in the economy is growing as they ensure energy independence and cost savings. The main purpose of this research is to understand the energy behaviors of prosumers and to examine the differences in energy behaviors between users of photovoltaic systems and heat pumps. A sample of 326 Polish prosumer households was selected using the CAWI method in order to obtain empirical data. The results suggest that prosumers show advanced ecological behaviors, and more than half of the respondents implement pro-ecological behaviors in their homes. Being a prosumer is associated with energy independence, which leads to economic stability and less dependence on traditional energy sources. The results indicate that prosumers show a general inclination toward pro-ecological behavior. Thus, this study recommends promoting prosumers and encouraging the use of pro-ecological energy as a priority for the economy. This initiative will contribute to a reduction in energy consumption in various areas, thus raising ecological awareness and a sense of responsibility for the environment.

Renewable energy sources (RESs) offer key transformative potential from a societal point of view due to their modularity and ability to generate energy at the local level, allowing for the development of grassroots democratic and participatory initiatives. The paper aims to share insights into the processes of creating RES cooperatives in Poland. One of the first cooperatives to be established in the Upper Silesian region in Poland was the energy cooperative (EC) “Our Energy”. This study presents an in-depth empirical analysis of a community-based renewable energy cooperative. The study employed a case study methodology, including a SWOT analysis framework, to describe the research subject and identify its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Key findings indicate that members benefit from stable energy prices and full recovery of the energy produced, and the cooperative is at the forefront of energy-sharing practices that minimize costs through direct transactions with the local municipality. The strategic goals of the EC focus on expanding membership, increasing the number of photovoltaic installations, implementing energy balancing, combating energy poverty, and reducing emissions. Challenges such as financial constraints and a lack of real-time monitoring of energy distribution are acknowledged, and carbon footprint reduction innovations and stakeholder engagement are highlighted as forward-looking approaches. The study highlights the role of cooperatives as a model for community-led sustainable energy initiatives. However, the study acknowledges the limitations of its small sample size, suggesting the need for broader research to understand the impact of collaborative energy on decarbonization. Future research directions are proposed, focusing on the long-term sustainability and socioeconomic impacts of energy cooperatives. This study contributes to the scholarly discourse on renewable energy cooperatives by offering insight into their potential to bridge the gap between energy producers and consumers and support sustainable community development. The main novelty of this paper lies in its detailed examination of a specific renewable energy cooperative, incorporating SWOT analysis, stakeholder perspectives, quantitative assessments, and a forward-thinking approach. This multifaceted analysis contributes to the existing literature on renewable energy initiatives, providing a valuable reference for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the field.

The growing impact of consumption on the environment has been attracting much attention from academics for the last couple of decades and has caused inquiries into the antecedents of responsible consumption. Previous studies focused on analyzing different antecedents of responsible consumption in various areas and contexts. However, very few studies investigated the antecedents of responsible consumption in the energy sector, and only a few referred to emerging European countries. The aim of the paper is to examine the effect of environmental awareness on responsible energy consumption. Data for this study have been collected using the survey methodology. A total of 1407 households were selected as a sample for the CAWI methods of gathering data. The territory of the study population is Poland. The methodology of research involves several measurement scales of theoretical constructs. The constructs′ reliability coefficients, as well as discriminant and convergent validity indices, showed an adequate level of measurement quality. Based on reliable and valid latent variables, the comparative analysis of mediated path models with moderated mediation is estimated. Structural causal modeling with d-separation check and sensitivity analysis of indirect causal paths is applied to test the causal research hypothesis under study. The research results confirm the significant mediational role of mobilizing attitude and environmental awareness in explaining relationships between perceived consumer effectiveness and energy efficiency and curtailment behaviors.

This manuscript explores the relationship between the economic awareness (as a part of energy awareness) of Polish households and their sustainable energy consumption practices. Sustainable consumption is measured by the frequency of behaviors such as turning off electrical devices when not in use, removing mobile device chargers from sockets, switching off lights when leaving a room, preferring showers over baths, using washing machines and dishwashers only when full, and purchasing energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs. Economic awareness is gauged through variables such as knowledge of electricity tariffs, understanding of electric bill components, awareness of electricity prices, exact knowledge of electricity expenses, electricity usage in kWh, knowledge of effective energy-saving methods, and familiarity with the energy efficiency classes of appliances and light bulbs. This study presents profiles of households with high and low economic awareness regarding their electricity expenditures and examines how these profiles differ in their sustainable energy consumption behaviors. This research is based on a survey of 1407 Polish households conducted online in 2023. Data collected from the survey were subjected to statistical analysis and are presented in tables and graphs. The findings are discussed in the context of the existing literature in the field, highlighting the implications of economic awareness on sustainable energy consumption practices. This research contributes to understanding how economic knowledge influences energy-saving behaviors among Polish households, providing insights for policymakers and energy conservation initiatives. One of the key findings of this paper is the significant association between economic awareness, energy-saving knowledge, and the adoption of sustainable energy consumption behaviors among Polish households. This study reveals that households with higher levels of economic awareness demonstrate a notably higher frequency of practices related to sustainable energy consumption compared to those with lower economic awareness. Similarly, households equipped with greater knowledge about energy-saving techniques exhibit a higher propensity to adopt energy-efficient behaviors. This underscores important roles of economic literacy and education in fostering behavioral changes towards more sustainable energy practices, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions and educational campaigns aimed at enhancing economic awareness and promoting energy-saving knowledge among consumers.

Poland’s energy transition represents a structurally complex case of decarbonization in a coal-dependent economy, where declining hard coal consumption, increasing renewable energy production, growing natural gas use, and continued economic expansion interact within the same energy–economic system. This study assesses the evolution of emission pressure in Poland between 2000 and 2023 using a Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Evaluation (FMCE) framework. The analysis integrates four system-level variables: gross domestic product, hard coal consumption, natural gas consumption, and renewable electricity production, the latter transformed into an inverse fuzzy variable representing insufficient renewable energy penetration. The FMCE-based emission pressure index was constructed using min–max normalization, continuous fuzzy membership degrees, weighted aggregation, and component-level decomposition. The results show that Poland’s emission pressure was highest in the early phase of the analyzed period, especially in 2000–2007, when the energy system remained strongly shaped by coal dependence. The years 2008–2013 formed an unstable transitional phase, while 2014–2018 showed a more stable moderate-pressure configuration. After 2018, the index declined markedly, indicating a shift toward lower emission pressure; however, only selected years reached the formal low-pressure category, which suggests that a stable low-emission regime has not yet been fully established. The decomposition confirms that hard coal was the dominant contributor to emission pressure for most of the period, although its relative contribution declined over time. Renewable energy development increasingly weakened emission pressure, while natural gas played an ambiguous transitional role by partly replacing coal but maintaining fossil-fuel dependence. The study contributes to energy-transition research by proposing an interpretable fuzzy composite index for tracking structural emission pressure over time. The findings underline the need for continued coal phase-down, accelerated renewable energy integration, grid modernization, and careful governance of natural gas as a transitional fuel in Poland’s pathway toward a lower-emission energy system.

The paper outlines the methodology employed for desk-based research, which involved gathering and analyzing empirical data on energy and heating consumption in the Polish small consumer sector. Secondary sources, including reports, documents, scientific publications, and public statistics, were utilized to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. The research methodology ensured the acquisition and examination of reliable and extensive data regarding energy and heat consumption among small consumers in Poland. The study investigated consumption trends of hard coal, electricity, and natural gas in Polish households from 2006 to 2021. The findings revealed an increasing pattern in electricity and natural gas consumption, alongside a simultaneous decline in the usage of hard coal. Future consumption was estimated using trend models, and factors contributing to changes in energy consumption patterns were examined, with forecasts to 2027. To achieve decarbonization and address climate objectives, the study underscores the need to increase the proportion of renewable energy sources and boost energy efficiency. The significance of reducing household energy consumption through enhanced insulation, smart energy management systems, and low-carbon alternatives is emphasized. Additionally, the study addresses Poland’s future energy plans as a proactive step toward decarbonizing the national economy. In summary, the study furnishes valuable insights into energy consumption trends and their determinants in the Polish small consumer sector.

This paper examines the relationship between macroeconomic scale, the structure of energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions in Poland over the period 2000–2023, against the background of the country’s energy transition under European Union (EU) climate policy. The study aims to identify the extent to which gross domestic product (GDP), hard coal consumption, natural gas consumption, and electricity generation from renewable energy sources (RES) explain the level of CO2 emissions in a coal-dependent economy undergoing gradual structural change. The empirical analysis is based on annual data from Statistics Poland and applies two complementary econometric approaches: an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model to capture the baseline relationships and an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to examine short-run dynamics and lagged effects. The OLS results show that the model explains a substantial share of emission variability and that coal consumption is the only statistically significant determinant of CO2 emissions, with a strong positive coefficient. GDP, natural gas consumption, and RES production do not exhibit statistically significant effects in the baseline specification. The ARDL results indicate that coal has the strongest contemporaneous statistical association with emissions, while also suggesting weak autoregressive properties of the emission system and the absence of statistically significant short-run associations for GDP, gas, and renewables. Sensitivity analysis further shows that coal remains the variable most strongly associated with emission levels, whereas the estimated associations for GDP, gas, and RES are comparatively weak. The findings suggest that, in Poland, emission dynamics are more closely linked to the carbon intensity of the energy mix than to the scale of economic activity itself. The study suggests that effective decarbonization is likely to be associated with a structural reduction in coal dependence, while the emission-reduction potential of renewable energy expansion may become more visible over a longer time horizon. These results have important implications for the design of Poland’s energy and climate policy, suggesting that the success of the transition is closely linked to changes in the structure of energy carriers in a way consistent with economic and infrastructural constraints.

In highly developed countries, more and more people use culinary services. Cooking at home, for the family, is giving way to culinary services. Consumers either order food home or use the offers of restaurants and bars. Consumers’ choice of culinary form may be influenced by cooking television programs. Many TV stations broadcast cooking programs. This study examined the impact of television culinary programs on consumer behavior in the restaurant services market. The article examines the interplay of emotional responses, personality traits, and culinary preferences to understand how TV cooking programs influence dining decisions. The study was conducted using the CAWI method, which involved 742 respondents. The study, conducted between May 2021 and April 2022, was addressed to people who visited restaurants presented in the Polish culinary TV show titled “Kitchen Revolutions”. The study revealed that almost 3/4 of the respondents chose restaurants based on the program’s recommendations. Although there was a strong emotional connection with this program—nearly half of the respondents expressed delight in the taste of snacks and main courses—this did not always translate into an increased frequency of eating meals away from home. Only every third respondent said that the program influenced their gastronomic behavior. The research hypotheses examined the extent to which culinary TV shows influence the frequency of visits to restaurants, the perceived quality of life, and the influence on consumers with specific personality traits. The results partially supported the hypothesis that cooking programs on television encourage people to eat out more often, but the perceived impact on quality of life and on some personality traits was less clear. The article contributes to the understanding of consumer behavior in the food service market by highlighting the complex dynamics of emotional reactions, personality traits, and the impact of culinary television programs. The findings have practical implications for the restaurant industry, suggesting a focus on emotional impact, food quality and presentation, and targeting marketing strategies towards consumers who are open to new experiences and ready to experiment.

The rapid urbanization and technological advancements of the recent decades have increased the need for efficient and sustainable transportation solutions. This study examines the acceptance of smart transportation systems (STSs) among residents in Polish cities and explores the impact of these systems on energy-saving behaviors. Using the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model, which includes the propensity to save energy, this research seeks to understand the determinants of STS adoption. The primary research was conducted using Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI). The sample was controlled for gender and place of residence. A sample of 471 individuals meeting the criteria of living in a city with over 200,000 residents and using smart transportation solutions in Poland were selected from the research panel. SmartPLS 4 software was used to analyze the collected data. The findings reveal that the propensity to save energy significantly influences perceived usefulness, ease of use, social influence, and hedonic motivation toward STSs. Perceived usefulness and ease of use were found to be strong predictors of the intention to use STSs, while perceived costs had a negative impact on it. This study also identified the moderating role of personal innovativeness in mitigating cost concerns. These insights underscore the importance of emphasizing energy conservation benefits and user-friendly features in promoting the use of STSs. This study concludes that aligning technological innovations with user motivations for energy conservation can enhance the adoption of sustainable transportation solutions, contributing to smarter and more sustainable urban environments.

Background: Understanding the psychological drivers of the energy transition is essential for accelerating the shift to low-carbon societies. The aim of this study is to examine how green consumer values (GCV), energy-saving knowledge (KES) and consumer energy awareness (CEA) jointly shape pro-environmental energy behaviors (EEB), while accounting for citizens’ perceived cost barriers (PESC). Methods: We conducted a nationally representative Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) survey of 1405 Polish households and employed structural-equation modeling to test an integrated framework linking values, awareness, knowledge, perceived costs and two behavioral domains: high-commitment efficiency investments and low-cost curtailment actions. Results: The structural-equation model confirms that green consumer value significantly enhance both knowledge of energy-saving (β = 0.434) and consumer energy awareness (β = 0.185), thereby driving two distinct pro-environmental pathways: high-commitment efficiency investments (energy efficiency behavior) (β = 0.488) and curtailment behaviors (β = 0.355). Green consumer value also reduces perception of energy-saving costs (β = −0.344), yet these costs themselves exert strong inhibitory effects on both energy efficiency behavior (β = −0.213) and curtailment behaviors (β = −0.302). Conclusions: Our findings validate an integrated value–awareness–behavior framework, demonstrating that fostering green values and improving informational access are critical to enhancing energy-saving practices, while cost-reduction measures remain indispensable. Policymakers should combine value-based education, transparent feedback tools and targeted financial incentives to unlock citizens’ full potential in driving the energy transition.