Abstract:
The objectives of this research were 1) to study the government policy, the current conditions, problems of electrical energy management in communities and households in the guideline for Central provinces of Thailand 2) to study the guidelines for electrical energy management in communities and households in the area of Central provinces of Thailand and 3) to propose the model for electrical energy, saving in communities and households in the area of Central provinces of Thailand. The approaches of mixed methods research were applied by combining the quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative method was conducted by studying 32 samples. This sample size derived from Taro Yamanes formula and in order to increase the confidence and accuracy of data, the sample size was increased to 500 respondents who were selected by multistage sampling from the people living in 5 Central provinces included Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Nakhon Nayok, Saraburi and Angthong province. The tool used to collect the data was a five level rating scale questionnaire. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics included percentage, mean, standard deviation. The qualitative method was conducted by interviewed 50 key informants who were purposively selected from energy specialists of Ministry of Energy working in 5 provinces included brain storming and group discussion. The data were analyzed by using content analysis consisted of interpretation, translation and conclusion.The research findings were as follows:1. The government policy, the current conditions problems of electrical energy management in communities and households were more sensitive than ever because the electrical energy consumption was increased due to the expansion of the residential areas, shopping centers, constructions, educational institute and government bureaus which brought about the increasing of electrical appliances. The electrical energy management in urban and rural area were not so efficient, lacking of integration and cooperation with communities and households as well as the organizations concerned. There were no participation, communication and public relations and knowledge providing without awareness was enhancing in communities and households energy saving.2) The guidelines for electrical energy management in communities and households comprised 7 aspects included (1) peoples participation, the people should be eligible knowledgeable and aware of energy saving which brought about participations (2) concrete energy planning, the promotion in energy saving should be organized to achieve awareness and effectiveness in energy saving (3) the technology and management process should be improved (4) the evaluation should be continuously conducted to achieve the sustainable electrical energy management in communities and households (5) the capabilities to be networking with any other communities and households (6) electrical consumer behaviors should be oriented to efficiency and maximum profit (7) the community electrical committee should be setting up to manage electrical energy based on the communities and households electrical plan.3) The proposed model for electrical energy saving in communities and households consisted of 3 sectors included (1) governmental sector should play great role in setting up policies, energy measures, renewable electrical energy management, people energy saving promotion and renewable electrical energy consumption, auditing and evaluate electrical energy policy revision and community electrical planning (2) community sector should play the great role in problem survey and energy requirement, setting up guidelines or measures for electrical energy saving and renewable energy consumptive auditing and evaluation and revision of guidelines or measures for electrical energy saving (3) household sector should know and understand in appliance procurement and application. They should be to do basic maintenance on their own and could audit and evaluate the primary application efficiently. The efficient measures for energy saving in communities and households needed to have the participation process from these sectors as the main principles in their operations.