A couple interesting links on getting folks to change their behavior/beliefs to conserve energy:
http://www.grist.org/article/2010-11-23-behavior-change-causes-changes-in-beliefs-not-vice-versa
http://www.grist.org/article/2010-12-02-smart-readers-weigh-in-on-behavior-change
The jist is that people willingly change their behaviors after someone they respect (e.g. parent) shows them
a new behavior, or they are forced to do the behavior a couple times (e.g. in a work/business context). They then
change their beliefs afterwards to justify/explain their new behaviors.
Seems to jibe with my own personal experience, and part of responsible parenting. There have been many
threads on here about older folks getting set in the their beliefs and resisting change (dry wood, EPA stove)
in the form of telling, but becoming converts after seeing/doing it. I also know lots here are modeling good
behaviors to their children such as saving energy/money...no doubt it has a real impact.
The folks at hearth.com are doers by their nature--and the above suggests that change IS led by doers doing,
not by talkers talking.
So, a question: have any of you inspired a neighbor or coworker to install a woodstove in their house,
change their burning practices, or improve their work/home energy efficiency by your successful example--
they visited your warm house in which you can't smell smoke, heard about how much money you saved, or helped
you with a wood scrounge and started collecting their own?
http://www.grist.org/article/2010-11-23-behavior-change-causes-changes-in-beliefs-not-vice-versa
http://www.grist.org/article/2010-12-02-smart-readers-weigh-in-on-behavior-change
The jist is that people willingly change their behaviors after someone they respect (e.g. parent) shows them
a new behavior, or they are forced to do the behavior a couple times (e.g. in a work/business context). They then
change their beliefs afterwards to justify/explain their new behaviors.
Seems to jibe with my own personal experience, and part of responsible parenting. There have been many
threads on here about older folks getting set in the their beliefs and resisting change (dry wood, EPA stove)
in the form of telling, but becoming converts after seeing/doing it. I also know lots here are modeling good
behaviors to their children such as saving energy/money...no doubt it has a real impact.
The folks at hearth.com are doers by their nature--and the above suggests that change IS led by doers doing,
not by talkers talking.
So, a question: have any of you inspired a neighbor or coworker to install a woodstove in their house,
change their burning practices, or improve their work/home energy efficiency by your successful example--
they visited your warm house in which you can't smell smoke, heard about how much money you saved, or helped
you with a wood scrounge and started collecting their own?