A new research report was just published, “Saving Energy at Home and on the Road: A survey of Americans’ energy saving behaviors, intentions, motivations, and barriers.” The report is based on a nationally representative survey of more than 2,000 Americans conducted in October and November.

In short, the study found that many Americans are ready, willing and able to save energy at home and when they travel. Many others are ready and willing, but need some help. A national strategy to conserve energy and invest in energy efficiency will find the American people a willing partner.

The survey also revealed much about the barriers preventing Americans from taking additional energy-saving actions. The significant upfront financial costs — simply not being able to afford to take the action — is by far the most pervasive barrier to improving energy efficiency in American homes and cars. This is especially true for people who currently have functional, albeit energy-inefficient, home heating and cooling systems or cars.

The report concludes that reducing this barrier “may require developing a different financial model (to help people to take these actions); for example, the way mobile phone providers eliminate upfront costs by financing the cost of the phone through the monthly service fees.”

While saving money is the most common reason why people take energy-saving actions — including insulating their attic, caulking and weather-stripping their home, setting their thermostats to more energy-efficient levels and buying a more fuel-efficient car — large numbers of respondents said they were also motivated to take these actions in order to reduce global warming, because it is the moral thing to do, or because these actions make them feel good about themselves. By more than a 2-to-1 margin, respondents also said that making changes to reduce their energy use will improve — not diminish — the quality of their lives.

A copy of the report can be downloaded from: http://environment.yale.edu

Source: http://environment.yale.edu

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