10.2190/2VYE-WN89-PA9M-1NK7 2VYEWN89PA9M1NK7 5 Energy in Daily Activities: Muddling Toward Conservation 147 155 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 2VYEWN89PA9M1NK7.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=2VYEWN89PA9M1NK7 2 Deborah A. Simmons Janet Frey Talbot Rachel Kaplan University of Michigan A person's pattern of energy use is influenced by a variety of psychological factors; the individual's attitude is only one of these. By examining the energy use patterns of individuals who are known to support energy conservation these non-attitudinal factors should be especially evident. This article discusses the results of a questionnaire dealing with the degree to which a variety of energy-conserving activities have been adopted. The sample for this study consisted of people whose concern for energy conservation was known to be relatively high, and their responses indicate that many conservation opportunities are being ignored. The most popular activities are relatively convenient and effortless, and involve familiar kinds of behavior and materials. The least popular activities are the most inconvenient and unfamiliar, as well as those where the connection between the behavior and any potential energy savings is not directly apparent. The findings of this study suggest the importance of increasing familiarity with newly-developed technologies and materials, and the value of providing imagery about the connections between specific activities and their energy-conservation potential. R. H. Weigel, Environmental Attitudes and the Prediction of Behavior, in <i>Environmental Psychology: Directions and Perspectives</i>, N. R. Feimer and E. S. Geller (eds.), Praeger, New York, 1983. E. S. Geller, R. A. Winett, and P. B. Everett, <i>Preserving the Environment: New Strategies for Behavioral Change</i>, Pergamon Press, New York, 1982. P. C. Stern and G. T. Gardner, Psychological Research and Energy Policy, <i>American Psychologist, 4</i>, pp. 329-342, 1981. M. E. Olsen, Consumers' Attitudes Toward Energy Conservation, <i>Journal of Social Issues, 37</i>, pp. 108-131, 1981. C. Seligman, M. Kriss, J. M. Darley, R. H. Fazio, L. J. Becker, and J. B. Pryor, Predicting Residential Energy Consumption from Homeowners' Attitudes, <i>Journal of Applied Psychology, 9</i>, pp. 70-90, 1981. S. M. Macey and M. A. Brown, The Role of Past Experience in Repetitive Household Behavior, <i>Environment and Behavior, 15</i>, pp. 123-141, 1983. C. E. Lindbloom, The Science of "Muddling Through," <i>Public Administration Review, Spring</i>, pp. 79-88, 1959. W. Johnson, <i>Muddling Toward Frugality</i>, Shambhala Publications, Boulder, Colorado, 1979. S. Kaplan and R. Kaplan, <i>Cognition and Environment: Functioning in an Uncertain World</i>, Praeger, New York, 1982.