Prompting Thermostat Setting Behavior: Public Response to a Presidential Appeal for Conservation
Luyben, P. D. (1982). Prompting thermostat setting behavior: Public response to a presidential appeal for conservation. Environment and Behavior, 14, 1, 113-128.
Surveyed 419 residents door-to-door and by telephone to obtain readings of thermostat settings immediately after President Carter's 1977 appeal to conserve energy. Results show the following: (a) Only 27% of households had their thermostats set to 65 degrees or lower after the appeal. (b) Those who heard the appeal were not significantly different from those who did not. (c) Reports of thermostat settings were significantly lower than actual observed settings. (d) Citizens made only limited readjustments in thermostat settings as a result of the energy crisis.
