Violator3, via Flickr (CC license)

How do you really make decisions about your energy use? We want to know.

As we’re ramping this project up, I’m spending a lot of time talking to just about anyone around town about energy use, climate change, and what Boulderites can (or will) do about it.

Something’s struck me about the role of human nature here. Repeatedly, Boulderites have expressed a desire to know how they currently “stack up” compared to their neighbors, other businesses, etc. in terms of carbon emissions. It seems that for many people, this context significantly influences their motivation and priorities — especially when it comes to investing extra money, time, or attention to save energy.

A man I recently chatted with at the supermarket probably put it best: “I really don’t know if how I live is a big problem compared to other people around here… I guess if I thought that I personally was a real bad guy, it’d be easier to buy those pricey light bulbs.”

Contrast that with this…

Yesterday I met briefly with staff from the city’s environmental affairs department. One remark by Sarah Van Pelt, Boulder’s Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, particularly struck me. When I expressed to the staff what I was hearing from people about wanting to compare themselves to some kind of relevant local average, she said that combatting climate change “is everyone’s problem. Everybody needs to do something.”

I understand what she’s saying, and in strictly logical terms she’s absolutely correct. Every action that every individual or organization takes to reduce energy waste really does help cut greenhouse gas emissions. It all adds up.

That said, human beings (perhaps especially in Boulder) don’t always make decisions based on logic, or on the big picture (community or environment). Making changes, however small, requires mustering up enough motivation to overcome inertia. Once you’ve made changes it’s easier to keep them up. But how, in day to day life, do you get to that point?

Motivation to make changes can be logical, but often it’s not. Comparing yourself to others is often a matter of psychology or emotion, not logic. Concern over how you “measure up” can be a powerful motivator .

Now, I’m not advocating shaming people into saving energy. But I do know this: Diffuse responsibility often equals low motivation. When something is “everyone’s problem,” it’s very tempting to treat it as “not my problem” — at least in terms of actions.

So I’d like your input, fellow Boulderites: What motivates you to act to save energy — or not?

I’m looking for examples. Think back to the last time you made a specific choice to do (or avoid doing) something, however small, that would save energy. For instance, did you replace your old refrigerator, or put that off for another year? Did you take the bus to work yesterday, or drive? Did you spend the extra money for compact fluorescent bulbs?

Recall the moment you made that choice, even if you chose to put off action for now. What steered your decision? What were you thinking, and what were you feeling? What did you honestly take into account? Please comment below.

Thanks!

This entry was posted on Friday, June 8th, 2007 at 5:17 pm and is filed under Choices & actions, Open Questions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.