Cognitive Dissonance and Energy Conservation

Articles
Kantola, S. J., Syme, G. J., & Campbell, N. A. (1984). Cognitive dissonance and energy conservation. Journal of Applied Psychology, 69, 3, 416-421.
Examined whether high consumers of electricity placed in a cognitively dissonant situation would conserve electricity over a 4-wk period. 272 households in Perth, Western Australi…

Psychological Research for the New Energy Problems: Strategies and Opportunities

Articles
Kempton, W., Darley, J. M., & Stern, P. C. (1992). Psychological research for the new energy problems: Strategies and opportunities. American Psychologist, 47, 10, 1213-1223.
Recent concern with environmental problems has rekindled interest in energy conservation. To illustrate how psychologists can make useful contributions and how a changed energy si…

Folk Quantification of Energy

Articles
Kempton, W., & Montgomery, L. (1982). Folk quantification of energy. Energy, 7, 10, 817-827.
Consumers use simplified measurements as a basis for residential energy decisions. We analyze their measurements of monthly consumption, changes through time, comparison of appl…

Do Consumers Know "What Works" in Energy Conservation?

Articles
Kempton, W., Harris, C. K., Keith, J. G., & Weihl, J. S. (1985). Do consumers know "what works" in energy conservation?. Marriage and Family Review, 9, 1-2, 115-133.
Investigated consumer attitudes toward energy conservation (efficiency investments, better management, and curtailment of amenities) by examining consumer bias in comparing measur…

Use of Evaluation to Improve Energy Conservation Programs: A Review and Case Study

Articles
Kushler, M. G. (1989). Use of evaluation to improve energy conservation programs: A review and case study. Journal of Social Issues, 45, 1, 153-168.
Focuses on energy conservation and reviews the history of social science contributions in that area, together with a case study of the successful Michigan Residential Conservation…

A Social Psychological Perspective on Energy Conservation in Residential Buildings

Articles
Langmeyer, L. (1984). A social psychological perspective on energy conservation in residential buildings. American Psychologist, 39, 7, 810-811.
To design effective public policy, the social, cognitive, and personal forces that, in addition to the economic realities, define the situation must be understood. For the past 4 …

Psychological Factors in the Nuclear Power Controversy

Articles
Levi, D. J., & Holder, E. E. (1988). Psychological factors in the nuclear power controversy. Political Psychology, 9, 3, 445-457.
Surveyed 289 undergraduates (approximate age 18-21 yrs) attending school near a nuclear power (NP) plant to examine beliefs and emotions that underlie attitudes toward nuclear pow…

Nuclear Power: The Dynamics of Acceptability

Articles
Levi, D. J., & Holder, E. E. (1986). Nuclear power: The dynamics of acceptability. Environment and Behavior, 18, 3, 385-395.
175 psychology and 35 landscape architecture students completed a questionnaire concerning the construction of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant to test the hypotheses that an…

Drop and Tilt: A Comparison of Two Procedures to Increase the Use of Venetian Blinds to Conserve Energy

Articles
Luyben, P. D. (1984). Drop and tilt: A comparison of two procedures to increase the use of venetian blinds to conserve energy. Journal of Community Psychology, 12, 2, 149-154.
Dropping and tilting venetian blinds appropriately can reduce unnecessary heat loss through window glass. Previous research has shown that both feedback and payments can effective…

Promoting Energy Conservation in Master-Metered Apartments through Group Financial Incentives

Articles
McClelland, L., & Cook, S. W. (1980). Promoting energy conservation in master-metered apartments through group financial incentives. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 10, 1, 20-31.
Describes an energy conservation program conducted among 4 groups of apartments (44-70 units/group) in a university-affiliated family housing complex. The winning group in each of…

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