Energy conservation

The positive environmental behaviors that can be effected by simple lifestyle changes are often learned as very young children. Habits such as turning off the lights when leaving a room may be formed at a young age, and may form the basis for positive environmental behavior throughout a person's lifetime. The authors of this paper studied the formation of such behaviors in 40 preschoolers who ranged in age from five to six years old and who lived in Ankara, Turkey. The researchers interviewed the students about their motivations for acting in an environmentally conscious manner.

Although many young people think that global climate change is a serious problem that needs to be addressed, studies have also found that feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, and helplessness are common. Few studies have explored how hope, or the lack thereof, relates to engagement concerning environmental problems. This article explores whether a sense of hope among young people is positively related to pro-environmental behaviors, or whether it is simply a sign of illusory optimism.

Research over the past 50 years has failed to provide evidence for a strong link between a person's attitudes toward the environment and his or her willingness to act environmentally. Yet most studies have tended to focus on individuals' general feelings toward the environment. This study focused, instead, on specific environmental attitudes and behaviors, with the aim of understanding environmental education's potential to increase individuals' willingness to undertake particular pro-environmental actions.

Behavior researchers have long understood that one important factor in moving people to action is the perception of approval from others. These "social norms" help indicate what is socially acceptable and can help motivate behaviors. Further research, though, has revealed that the way that norms affect behavior is not straightforward. In fact, there are different types of norms, and this research aimed to investigate what happens when different types of norms interact.

Teenagers are often known for their attitudes, and this study explores a particular type of attitude in teens: attitudes toward energy use and energy saving. Environmental researchers know very little about what teens think about energy or how they use it. Previous studies indicate that teenagers consume more electricity than adults, a troubling trend given the environmental impacts of increasing energy consumption worldwide.

There is a vast array of pro-environmental behaviors people can adopt to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigate the contribution of human activity to global climate change—from turning off lights, to composting, to biking instead of driving. Few studies have looked at which behaviors are the “low-hanging fruit” in terms of being most likely to be adopted by students after an environmental education experience.

Global consumption of materials and energy is one of the greatest contributors to current environmental crises. However, sustainable consumption curricula and corresponding educational research are in their infancy. The author of this paper used recent case studies and EE literature to investigate discrepancies between consumption patterns and attitudes within different socioeconomic contexts. Based on her findings, the author proposes that the Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) framework could address challenges of teaching sustainable consumption behavior by shifting the paradigm altogether.

Peer-to-peer learning (or social learning) occurs when people learn from each other. Peer-to-peer learning can occur through conversations, or from observing other people's behavior. For example, if you notice that someone always turns off the lights when they leave a room, you may be more likely to do the same thing. Peer-to-peer learning can be useful in nonformal environmental education, but educators may find it challenging to assess the educational impact of peer-to-peer learning programs.

Research has shown that comparing people to others in their same group--called intragroup comparisons--can motivate engagement in sustainable behavior. For example, in a recent study, researchers told hotel guests that former occupants of the same room had conserved water by not sending towels to be washed daily. This comparison with guests in the same room served as an intragroup comparison, and it influenced the current occupants' towel use, causing them to also cut back on towel washing.