One of the on-going mysteries associated with the environmental challenges we're facing is: if everyone knows that we have a problem, and everyone is motivated to make some changes in order to improve the situation, why is it so hard to get more than a few people to do the right thing? Of course there are many answers to this question, but one that strikes me is the importance of immediacy. What I mean by that is that I believe people *will* change their behaviors in ways that help the environment (or hurt it less) if they are given relevant, timely feedback about the impact that their actions are having.
As a proud new hybrid owner I am experiencing this effect first-hand. As I watch my miles per gallon reading during each outing (the hybrid's computer shows a lot of MPG-related data - very cool), I find that I'm compelled to take advantage of the gas-saving features more than I ever did in conventional cars. I am much more conscious of the "cost" of passing another driver, and I'm much happier to coast down hills with only the battery on.
Extending this principle to other parts of our daily lives, I can see a future when each of us is able to easily see the gas, electric, and water meters in our homes...and simply by seeing them (moving in the "wrong"direction) we will feel compelled to turn off lights, turn the thermostat down, and take shorter showers. Somehow the monthly bills - even though they show monthly and year-on-year comparisons and often times include financial inducements to lower our usage - just aren't timely enough to get us to make meaningful changes.
Out of sight, out of mind...
Kent Ragen
www.ecounit.com
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