Taking Action to Reduce Energy Use

The Shelton Group has done interesting work on consumer attitudes about energy use, and how those attitudes relate to behaviors. Many energy efficiency programs are experimenting with behavioral components in their energy efficiency programs. I recommend talking to the non-profit group One Change about their behavior-based approach to energy efficiency programs. They have run programs from the Yukon to New Jersey. A good contact there is Monica Alderette [email protected]. I

Christopher Granda
Principal Consultant
Grasteu Associates
United States

Hi Joette,

I'm currently working on developing an energy efffciency campaign that focuses on behavorial change. If you shoot me an e-mail I can reply with some articles that might be relevant to you.

Jennifer Horton
VISTA
HEAL AR
United States

Will County has used DOE funds to create a website with some games to encourage children and adults to recycle, compost, conserve water and make energy efficiency changes. The games are located at http://www.willcountygreen.com/education/games.aspx


Marta Keane
Recycling Specialist
Will County
United States
willcountylanduse.com

Cool the Earth, has had great success in changing energy-related behaviors using a child-driven model. Our program, developed for K-8 schools, educates students about climate change and provides the tools and inspiration for they and, more importantly, their families to take action. The program is offered free to schools and is run by a parent or teacher volunteer within the school community.
In the spring of 2010, Cool the Earth collaborated with behavior change researcher, June Flora, Ph.D., senior research scientist, ARPAe Project Coordinator, at Stanford University to evaluate the impact and efficacy of the program. We're just completing the three-phase study but preliminary results, including the formative evaluation and process evaluation, affirmed the overall effectiveness of our child-driven model. The final results will be available in March.

Tracey Diaz
COO
Cool the Earth
United States

By the way, I understand New York City has put new laws on the books to make energy rankings of buildings public information and wants it listed on MLS sheets. This could go a long way to motivating property owners to improve energy.

They have been doing this for a while in London, it's a great idea. I've been running up against problems dealing with tenant/landlord issues...most landlords will not even allow home energy audits to happen, as they have no interest in lowering utility bills for their tenants as long as they are getting that monthly rent check. If every building's energy rating was a matter of public record, it would be (a) useful for tenants in choosing a property to rent and (b) an incentive for owners to maintain and improve their rental properties. Perfect!

Jennifer Horton
VISTA
HEAL AR/William J. Clinton Foundation
United States

Tracey, please inform us when the results of your program will be published. Tnx

Vanja Medugorac

The Calgary real estate board is about five months into a program promoting Canada's Energuide lable for homes and including the energy rating on the MLS Listing. Their website is: http://www.crebgogreen.com/. They are hoping to have 250 listings by the end of the pilot. The current soft buyers market and promotion of the program have been distict challenges. There has been very good participation by realtors which go through a specilized training program on energy efficiency. Other real estate boards in Canada have expressed interest in the program.

Patrick Inglis
Senior Program Manager, Energy Efficency and Conservation
Climate Change Central
Canada
www.climatechangecentral.com

NYC's benchmarking law applies to City buildings over 10,000 square feet and all buildings over 50,000 square feet. It requires the public reporting of results, starting in 2011 for City buildings, 2012 for non-residential buildings, and 2013 for residential buildings. The first benchmarking of privately-owned buildings is due this spring. Stay tuned.


Phyllis Arnold
Executive Director
Center for Code Reform
United States

In fact energy certification of buildings used by the public, and prominent display of this certification is a requirement throughout Europe. See http://www.display-campaign.org/ab_839_943

The Display Campaign http://www.display-campaign.org/spip.php is a programme that facilitates public display of building energy certificates.

Brian MacNamee

The average Canadian releases about 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year without giving it a second thought. So imagine an enormous cube 27 feet x 27 feet x 27 feet yes, thats the volume of just one tonne see http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/12/how-big-a-tonne-of-co2.php.

As a Cowichan Carbon Buster, I am planning to build a plastic pipe frame for this whopping structure to show citizens the immensity of their release of greenhouse gases into the air every three weeks! I will assemble the "sculpture" at farmer's markets, fairs, schools, etc. to give visibility to gases that cannot be seen. The sculpture will be a huge oh-my-gosh spectacle and so will educate and motivate citizens to reduce their use of fossil fuels.

The "sculpture" could be accompanied by banners, video/slide shows, displays of solar panels, dancing groups, etc. - or it could be part of a guerrilla theatre/event for a few hours in parking lots of malls, beside highways, etc. I will fund a prototype out of plastic piping, but would like advice or partners/sponsors to take this project "viral" all over Canada (and the world?).

We must act urgently on climate change. Our politicians will not act unless they have public support. Are you onside? Can you help?

Peter Nix,
Environmental Scientist, retired
Cowichan Carbon Buster, self-appointed
[email protected] or 250-748-7954



Peter Nix
Cowichan Carbon Buster (i.e., a volunteer)
Canada