A Parable on American Consumption

Way back in the days when the grass was still green and the pond was still wet

And the clouds were still clean…

I laughed at the Lorax, “You poor stupid guy!You never can tell what some people will buy.”

UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.

Sustainable Consumption in the Household

Environmental Strategies 454:Taylor McLean, Andrew Lesser, Johnathan Licitra

Household Consumption

I. Individualization of responsibility*Lifestyle change

II. Collective Action *Education*Eco-cycling

III. Market Mechanisms

* Household Efficiency* Energy Star

IV. Government Action

Voluntary Simplicity

“It means an ordering and guiding or our energy and our desires, a partial restraint in some directions in order to secure greater abundance of life in other directions. It involves a deliberate organization of life for a purpose.”

-Duane Elgin (1993) Voluntary Simplicity

Source: Dove, Roxanne & Sue Bailey. “VoluntarySimplicity: Creating a sustainable future”. Journal ofFamily and Consumer Sceinces. Apr. 2003.

Collective Action

“Community integrates lifestyle with use and care for surrounding land.”

- Francis M. Vanek

Community and NGOs

Education and AwarenessMandating community service in secondary education

Benefits:Teaches social interdependence Teaches respect & responsibility

Community and NGOs

Resource ProductivityEco-cycling

Benefits:Increases Product LifecycleReduces need for natural resourcesNew market potential (Ebay)

Community and NGOs

Work-Spend LifestyleReduction in work week

Benefits:More leisure timeLess pay, less consumptionMore environmental awareness

Market Incentives

Increases in efficiency lead to saved money on utility billsCan be achieved through upgrading technology in the houseAlternative energy sources reduce inputs

Upgrading technology

One major source of energy loss is through windowsFurnaces have had great leaps in efficiency over the past decadeEnergy Star appliances indicate a reduced need for electricity

Alternative Energy

Today, usually solar (PV) cellsLower start up costs—38% decrease in price over the past 10 yearsIncreased length of warranteesFederal grants or tax credits are availableWhen excess energy is produced, it can be sold to power companies

Energy Star

Government program to certify efficient homesRequires a 30% increase in energy efficiency, or a 15% increase from state laws, whichever is stricterTwo methods of certification-Building Option Packages (BOP) for new homes, Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) for existing homes

Financial Benefits of Energy Star

Energy efficiency lowers utility bills— estimated savings of $540 annuallyCertified homes are eligible for lower mortgage paymentsCosts of compliance with Energy Star between $3,000-$4,000With no mortgage benefits, payoff in ~7 years, sooner with lower mortgage

HERS and BOP

Home Energy Rating System scores house efficiency on a 100 point score80 is the normal, to qualify for Energy Star, a score of 86 is requiredScores are based on windows, insulation, water heating, duct leakage, etc…Building Option Packages set minimum goals for these criteriaBoth methods require an independent evaluator for certification

Gov. Action toward Sustainable Consumerism in the Household

Currently very little action takenEnergy Star certification program offers mortgage benefitsGrants are available for the installation of solar cellsTwo competing bills were introduced in 2002, H.R. 778, and S. 207

Efficiency Tax Breaks in H.R. 778 and S. 207

H.R. 778For new houses, a 30% increase in efficiency gives $2,000 tax break

Existing homes-20% of the upgrade cost given back up to $1,000

S. 207For new houses, a 30% increase in efficiency gives $1,250 tax break, 50% increase--$2,500Existing homes-10% of the upgrade cost given back up to $300

Efficiency Tax Breaks in H.R. 778 and S. 207 Continued

S. 207Energy efficient appliances give a break of $75-$250

Same for solar energy, 30% return on wind energy investments

H.R. 778None

Returns 15% of the cost of solar panels up to $2,000

Trinity Approach of Sustainable Consumption in the Household

Fear

MoneyLove

Confidence

Tradeoffs

Collaboration

Income

Knowledge

Towards making informed consumptive choices:

"Would it not be well for us to consider if our deed will warrant the expense of nature?"

-- Henry David Thoreau

www.realgoods.comwww.realgoods.com

www.greenpages.orgwww.greenpages.org

www.energystar.govwww.energystar.gov

www.seedsofsimplicity.comwww.seedsofsimplicity.com

www.newdream.orgwww.newdream.org