Smart Conservation for the Lazy Consumer

People aren’t conserving energy for love or money—you have to trick them into it

Publication: IEEE Spectrum
Issue Date: July 2012

If your electric company tells you to cut back your energy use or face the possibility of a blackout, you’ll probably comply. You’ll turn off unnecessary lights and appliances and use the air conditioner less. But the moment the crisis is averted, you’ll quickly return to your old habits. That’s because in spite of what people say about wanting to protect the environment and save money, they rarely limit their energy consumption to achieve these goals. Convenience always trumps conservation. Read more