Energy Conservation
This page is for Master Watershed Stewards considering a Behavior Change campaign in their communities. To learn more about what you can do as an individual click here.
Conserving energy means that less energy needs to be produced at the power plant, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and the release of air pollutants. When it rains these pollutants may be captured by the water and washed into waterways to become water pollutants.
Behavior: Raise the thermostat by 3 degrees in the summertime.
Using less air conditioning to cool down your house is an excellent way to save energy in the summertime. Air conditioning is one of the top energy sinks for a home and keeping your house a few degrees warmer can mean huge energy and cost savings. It’s okay to be warm in the summertime. Switch out pants for shorts and drink an iced beverage.
Some of the common perceived or actual barriers to raising your thermostat include:
Some of the common perceived or actual benefits to raising your thermostat include:
1. It will save money
2. It’s better for the environment (uses less electricity)
Behavior: Insulate your attic.
A lot of your home’s heat is lost through the attic. While it is a good idea to winterize your whole house, heat rises in the winter and the attic is the most vulnerable point for heat to escape from your house. Insulating your attic can make a big difference in winter energy savings and keep you warmer.
Some of the common perceived or actual barriers to insulating attics include:
Some of the most common perceived or actual benefits to insulating attics include:
1. Can save money in the long term
2. Makes your house more marketable
3. Better for the environment
Behavior: Replace incandescent lightbulbs with CFL lightbulbs.
Incandescent lightbulbs can be a major drain on electricity in the home or office. Replacing these lightbulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lighbulbs (CFLs) or Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) can save 75- 80% more energy and energy costs and last 10-25 times longer than traditional incandescent lighbulbs. This is a fairly simple and cheap behavior that does not have to be performed often. http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/how-energy-efficient-light-bulbs-compare-traditional-incandescents
Some of the common perceived or actual barriers to replacing incandescent lightbulbs with high efficiency lightbulbs, such as CFL’s or LEDs include:
Some of the common perceived or actual benefits toreplacing incandescent lightbulbs with high efficiency lightbulbs, such as CFL’s or LEDs include:
1. Can save money in the long term
2. Last longer
3. Produce less heat
4. Energy savings benefit the environment
Campaign Suggestions:
Commitment (CT)
Pledge
Social Norms (SN)
Compare their savings against their neighbors
Social Diffusion (SD)
Prompts (P)
Stickers to remind them to replace lightbulbs
Communications (C)
Pamphlets, post cards, blurbs in electricity bill
Incentives (I)
Offer free or low-cost bulbs
Convenience (CV)
Offer to deliver and/or install lightbulbs
Feedback (F)
Let them know their energy and cost savings (electric bills will sometimes provide this)
Case Studies:
Bonneville Power Administration
Bonneville Power Administration: Behavior Based Energy Efficiency Program Profiles