Icebreaker Joke: How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: only one, but the light bulb has to want to change!

Perspectives:

Whereas knowing how to improve environmental quality is important, possessing such knowledge certainly does not ensure that one will be motivated to take action. Iozzi.

Men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all the other alternatives. Abba Eban.

Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all - the apathy of human beings. Helen Keller.

The problems of the world essentially are the problems of individuals. If individuals can change, then the course of the world can change. This is a hope worth sustaining. Dr. T.H. Harris.

If the people would lead, the leaders would follow. Unknown.

Which Behaviors Are The Most Damaging? *

#1 - Transportation
Transportation - or how we get around - is the biggest impact a consumer has on the environment (in the United States). See these links for more information or for products and services available to you today!

#2 - Food Production
Although the focus of this site is energy, the management believes in a focus on "The Big Picture," so this is important information to pass along. The food we typically consume, it turns out, is our 2nd largest category of environmental impact. Also, it so happens food production consumes a lot of energy, especially during transportation, so I can argue this category is not out of place on an energy-related site. So one answer is to "buy locally!!" The rest of the answer is to consume organically grown foods, andminimize or eliminate your consumption of meat (pork, beef, and poultry - in order of decreasing environmental impact). For more information go here - Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Product Industry links

#3 - Buildings
Our homes heating, cooling, and water heating have the 3rd biggest impact, followed by household appliances/lighting at #4, home construction at #5, and household water and sewage at #6. The links below, as well as others located throughout this site, will help you learn how to make your buildings - and your life - contribute to a more sustainable future.

* The Consumer's Guide To Effective Environmental Choices

Sustainable Living Products

Sustainable Living Information

Why Don't We Behave More Sustainably,
and What Is The Best Approach To Change?

Alternative Energy Institute, Inc.
The Alternative Energy Institute, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to a sustainable energy future. They answer vital questions and promote solutions. Their focus is to help ensure a smooth transition from dependence on dangerous and polluting forms of energy to a more vital, healthier world. Learn about the impacts of the use of conventional fuels and the environmental and political prices we all pay. We will survey traditional renewable energy from solar to hydroelectic power. We will introduce you to the researchers working on new forms of energy, and you will learn the hazards and joys of this work.

Can We Transform the Market Without Transforming the Customer?
Whatever the condition of a home, the behavior of the occupants is the most powerful determinant of how much energy is consumed. By Merrilee Harrigan.

The Consumer's Guide To Effective Environmental Choices - An Essential Reference
Finally, a study-turned-guide that gives the facts on our environmental impacts and - most important - what to do about it!

Consumer Psychology and Promotion of Sustainable Energy Use - A "Must Read"
Asia-Pacific Forum on Effective Consumer Information for Sustainable Energy Use.

Green Productivity - Doubling Wealth, Halving Resource Use
By Mr. Raimund Bleischwitz, Wuppertal Institute on Energy-Environment/Max Planck Project Group on the Law of Common Goods, Bonn, Germany

Review of Material Consumer Behavior and Consumer Marketing
Classroom material on the psychology of consumers by Consumer Psychologist Lars Perner, Ph.D., of The George Washington University.

Role of Consumer groups in promotion of sustainable energy use
By Bodo Tegethoff, AgV, Germany

Sustainability Project - Inviting Debate
There are moves afoot to improve our measure of well-being so that it reflects social and environmental conditions. It would acknowledge losses and account for voluntary contributions to well-being. The "7th Generation Bill" process aims to make people and their enterprises responsible for their impacts on present and future generations. It would include a legal framework requiring that social and environmental costs be included in prices.

Sustainable Energy and Development Online

Sustainable Minnesota
Minnesotans for An Energy-Efficient Economy (ME3) is a coalition working to improve the quality of life, the environment and the economy of Minnesota by promoting energy efficiency and the sound use of renewable energy.

Sustainable Products Database
A database of sustainable product and service examples, hundreds of contacts in 55 countries. A downloadable version of
their magazine ëWay Beyondí, reports and a Sustainable Development Agenda.

Sustainable Sources Environmental Website
Sustainable Sources provides resources that offer practical options to the conventional methods of building, community, travel, and more.

Toward Sustainable Communities
A nice collection of pages related to sustainable communities. By Steve Heckeroth, Albion, CA, USA