20 per cent of interviewees cited turning off lights as the best approach, despite the fact that such action makes little difference. But switching to more efficient cars, appliances and weatherizing homes was only cited by an average of 2.5 per cent. Experts say such measures achieve as much as 30 per cent and do not require waiting for new technologies or making dramatic lifestyle changes.
“When people think of themselves, they may tend to think of what they can do that is cheap and easy at the moment,†said Shahzeen Attari, postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University’s Earth Institute and the university’s Center for Research on Environmental Decisions. She added that experts are failing to communicate what they know about the potential of investments in technology and have focused instead on recycling and turning off lights. “That is, keeping the same behaviour, but doing less of it.â€
An example that Dr. Attari gives as efficient action is switching to high-efficiency light bulbs, which can be kept on and still save more than cutting down on the use of low-efficiency ones.
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Source: Earth Institute
