Study: Americans unclear on energy saving
NEW YORK, Aug 17, 2010 -- UPI
Americans are generally in the dark when it comes to the most efficient
ways to save energy, U.S. researchers say.
A survey by Columbia University researchers found the majority believe
they can save energy with small changes in lifestyles, while completely
underestimating the major effects of changing over to efficient,
currently available technology, a university release said Monday.
The largest group, nearly 20 percent, said turning off lights was the
best approach -- an action that affects energy budgets relatively
little, researchers say. Very few thought about purchase decisions like
more efficient cars that experts say could significantly cut U.S. energy
consumption, the survey found.
In general, the survey author says, people tend to believe in what
she calls curtailment.
"That is, keeping the same behavior, but doing less of it," Shahzeen
Attari of Columbia University's Earth Institute said. "But switching to
efficient technologies generally allows you to maintain your behavior,
and save a great deal more energy."
As an example, she cited high-efficiency light bulbs that can be kept on
all the time and still save more than minimizing the use of
low-efficiency ones.
People typically are willing to take one or two actions to address a
perceived problem, Attari says, but after that they start to believe
they have done all they can.
"Of course we should be doing everything we can. But if we're going to
do just one or two things, we should focus on the big energy-saving
behaviors," Attari said. "People are still not aware of what the big
savers are."
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