Energy Saving News
U.S. Study Reveals Americans Unsure on Energy Saving
A STUDY by Columbia University in the U.S. reveals that many Americans maybe in the dark regarding efficient ways to save electricity.
In the survey researchers found the majority believe that they can make real energy savings with small changes in habits, but underestimating the massive energy saving available through changing to efficient, currently available technology.
The largest single group, around 20 percent, thought just turning off lights was the best strategy, which is a start but in reality it has a small affect on energy budgets. The survey reported that only a few thought about purchasing energy efficient technology, appliances and equipment - which experts say could significantly cut U.S. energy consumption.
The author of the survey stated that many people believed 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."
To illustrate she referred to high-efficiency light bulbs that could be kept on all the time but still save more than minimising the use of low-efficiency ones. Combined with intelligent light management systems the savings can become substantial.
People generally are happy to take one or two actions to address a perceived problem, Attari said, but they soon believe they have done all they reasonably 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, people are still not aware of what the big savers are," Attari concluded.
Picture by Momos
Wednesday 18th August 2010
