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Individual Carbon Footprints: Beliefs, Impact and Misconceptions
How do individuals assess their private energy use? Insights from a systematic literature analysis and a survey
Keywords: Energy Consumption, Misconceptions, Literature Review, Survey Data
Our modern societies depend on energy. Today’s demand is mostly covered by fossil fuels, which drives well known environmental (e.g., carbon emissions) and geopolitical problems (e.g., energy security, access to water). Governments, companies, and other organizations across the globe therefore seek to improve energy efficiency either through technological progress (e.g., more fuel-efficient cars) or – increasingly – by focusing on the behavior of individuals in their daily lives (e.g., eco-driving, adjusting thermostat settings). Even though many individuals are willing to protect the environment by leading more sustainable lives, they usually do not know about effective means to decrease their energy consumption. For instance, Attari et al. find that many people think energy use can be lowered most by reducing lighting even though actually “turning out lights when leaving rooms, tend to have minimal impact on climate change” (Gardner and Stern, 2008, p. 15).
We are now looking for a Master student interested in the topic and willing to look into human behavior regarding energy conservation. The thesis would be based on both, a systematic literature review and on survey data.
Our modern societies depend on energy. Today’s demand is mostly covered by fossil fuels, which drives well known environmental (e.g., carbon emissions) and geopolitical problems (e.g., energy security, access to water). Governments, companies, and other organizations across the globe therefore seek to improve energy efficiency either through technological progress (e.g., more fuel-efficient cars) or – increasingly – by focusing on the behavior of individuals in their daily lives (e.g., eco-driving, adjusting thermostat settings). Even though many individuals are willing to protect the environment by leading more sustainable lives, they usually do not know about effective means to decrease their energy consumption. For instance, Attari et al. find that many people think energy use can be lowered most by reducing lighting even though actually “turning out lights when leaving rooms, tend to have minimal impact on climate change” (Gardner and Stern, 2008, p. 15).
We are now looking for a Master student interested in the topic and willing to look into human behavior regarding energy conservation. The thesis would be based on both, a systematic literature review and on survey data.
You get
• No predefined agenda –the structure of the work is still be to determined from scratch
• access to a panel which you can interview – so you don’t need to beg your fellow students to answer your survey
• insights into a research in practice
• to work in a young and dynamic team
• location flexibility (ETH WEV building or remote)
You are expected to
• create an overview about currently existing research in the area
• validate your hypothesis derived from previous research with an online survey
• develop and deploy an online survey
• summarize the method and your findings for your thesis
You should bring
• study course related to information systems, management, or behavioral sciences (psychology, sociology)
• interest in the topic energy efficiency
• interest in human behavior
• analytical skills
• motivation and creativity
• ability to work in a structured and very precise way
• team work skills
You get • No predefined agenda –the structure of the work is still be to determined from scratch • access to a panel which you can interview – so you don’t need to beg your fellow students to answer your survey • insights into a research in practice • to work in a young and dynamic team • location flexibility (ETH WEV building or remote)
You are expected to • create an overview about currently existing research in the area • validate your hypothesis derived from previous research with an online survey • develop and deploy an online survey • summarize the method and your findings for your thesis
You should bring • study course related to information systems, management, or behavioral sciences (psychology, sociology) • interest in the topic energy efficiency • interest in human behavior • analytical skills • motivation and creativity • ability to work in a structured and very precise way • team work skills
Bits to Energy Lab, ETH Zürich
Liliane Ableitner
lableitner@ethz.ch
Bits to Energy Lab, ETH Zürich Liliane Ableitner lableitner@ethz.ch