Altruism, self-interest, and energy consumption

How can we encourage greater energy efficiency? Estimates that take account of behavioral plasticity—the ease with which actions can be taken—indicate that the United States could reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by 7% if households adopted simple and money-saving efficiency actions (1). However, most households are not taking these actions despite the benefits for the environment and for household budgets. By engaging key factors that influence household energy consumption, Asensio and Delmas shed light on unrealized energy efficiency (2). Their results provide useful insights for the design of programs to encourage energy efficiency; in doing so, they hone our understanding of environmental decision making.