Using Social Norms to Reduce Household Energy Consumption

Cases
Schultz P. W., Nolan J. M., Cialdini R. B., Goldstein N. J., Griskevicius Vladas (2007). The Constructive, Destructive, and Reconstructive Power of Social Norms. Psychological Science, 18(5), 429-434.
Background  In the two projects described below, information was delivered to households in order to foster norms that support reduced electricity consumption.  These projects ma…

Putting Text in Context: The Conflict Between Pro-Ecological Messages and Anti-Ecological Descriptive Norms

Articles
Oceja, L., & Berenguer, J. (2009). Putting text in context: The conflict between pro-ecological messages and anti-ecological descriptive norms. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 12(2), 657-666.
In the present work we test whether the effectiveness of ecological messages may be canceled out when they conflict with the descriptive norm that is salient in the situation. In …

Campaigns to Promote Environmental Health

Forums
x y Oct 5, 2008 21:36 pm
Dear colleagues, As part of formative research for a project that I am working on, I would appreciate your recommendations, documentation (research, strategy, evaluation) and…

Information and Energy Conservation

Articles
Seligman, C. (1985). Information and energy conservation. Marriage and Family Review, 9, 1-2, 135-149.
Examines reasons why consumers are not saving as much energy and money as they can using research on the psychology of the energy consumer. The information consumers have and need…

Applying Social Psychology to Desegregation and Energy Conservation. Special Issue: Illustrating the Value of Basic Research

Articles
Aronson, E. (1990). Applying social psychology to desegregation and energy conservation. Special Issue: Illustrating the value of basic research. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 16, 1, 118-132.
Presents 2 examples of social psychology in action in dealing with an immediate crisis and a gradual problem. The immediate crisis occurred when a school system was desegregated, …

Promoting Energy Conservation in University Dormitories by Physical, Policy and Resident Behavior Changes

Articles
McClelland, L. & Belsten, L. (1979). Promoting energy conservation in university dormitories by physical, policy and resident behavior changes. Journal of Environmental Systems, 9, 1, 29-38.
Two successive energy conservation programs were implemented in four University of Colorado dormitories. Program I included persuasive communications, information, feedback, and …

How to incentivize comprehensive home energy retrofits

Forums
Julie Cook Kitchener Apr 8, 2024 13:00 pm
Hi all,   Even with the growing climate crisis and the rising cost of living, it is still a challenge to convince homeowners to retrofit their homes to be more energy efficient. T…

Positive Engagement?

Forums
Ramsey Hart Baie Verte Jan 11, 2008 21:12 pm
Hi Folks, I'm struggling with the notion of positive engagement with companies that are known to have unsustainable or what could be considered socially unjust practices (ex.…

How Influential is the Auditor? Determinants of Sales Effectiveness in Energy Conservation Programs

Articles
Brown, M. A., Berry, L. G., White, D. L. & Trumble, D. (1988). How influential is the auditor? Determinants of sales effectiveness in energy conservation programs. Energy Systems and Policy, 12, 135-149.
This paper examines the determinants of auditor effectiveness in selling energy conservation to homeowners and reports the results of an analysis of the effectiveness of the energ…

Improving Energy Conservation With Effective Home Audit Programs in California Using Communication and Commitment

Cases
Aronson, E. (1990). Applying social psychology to desegregation and energy conservation. Special Issue: Illustrating the value of basic research. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 16, 1, 118-132.
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in California provided a home audit program as a method to improve energy conservation. This initiative gave homeowners a free home ins…

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