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Why don't people weatherize their homes? An ethnographic solution

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  • Wilk, Richard R.
  • Wilhite, Harold L.

Abstract

The authors' analysis of energy decision-making in 60 households in Santa Cruz County. California, reveals a seeming anomaly in consumers' energy decision strategies. Few households have taken advantage of the low cost and high savings potential of weather-stripping and caulking, though many have spent thousands of dollars on other energy-conserving investments that are expensive and have long payback periods. An ethnographic model, which incorporates sociocultural and psychological goals, makes this perplexing pattern comprehensible. We conclude that a model of strict economic rationality is inadequate in explaining energy-conservation behavior. The notion of rationality must be expanded to incorporate noneconomic goals. The failure to do so may have serious consequences for the marketing of energy-conservation products and programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Wilk, Richard R. & Wilhite, Harold L., 1985. "Why don't people weatherize their homes? An ethnographic solution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 10(5), pages 621-629.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:10:y:1985:i:5:p:621-629
    DOI: 10.1016/0360-5442(85)90093-3
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Lillemo, Shuling Chen, 2014. "Measuring the effect of procrastination and environmental awareness on households' energy-saving behaviours: An empirical approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 249-256.
    2. Strengers, Yolande, 2012. "Peak electricity demand and social practice theories: Reframing the role of change agents in the energy sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 226-234.
    3. Aune, Margrethe, 2007. "Energy comes home," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 5457-5465, November.
    4. Mansouri, Iman & Newborough, Marcus & Probert, Douglas, 1996. "Energy consumption in UK households: Impact of domestic electrical appliances," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 54(3), pages 211-285, July.
    5. Jensen, Jesper Ole, 2008. "Measuring consumption in households: Interpretations and strategies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1-2), pages 353-361, December.
    6. Kirstin Munro, 2018. "Unwaged Work and the Production of Sustainability in Eco-Conscious Households," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 50(4), pages 675-682, December.
    7. Friedman, Chanoch & Becker, Nir & Erell, Evyatar, 2014. "Energy retrofit of residential building envelopes in Israel: A cost-benefit analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 183-193.
    8. Chris Foulds & Sarah Royston & Thomas Berker & Efi Nakopoulou & Zareen Pervez Bharucha & Rosie Robison & Simone Abram & Branko Ančić & Stathis Arapostathis & Gabriel Badescu & Richard Bull & Jed Cohen, 2022. "An agenda for future Social Sciences and Humanities research on energy efficiency: 100 priority research questions," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-18, December.
    9. Müller, Liana & Berker, Thomas, 2013. "Passive House at the crossroads: The past and the present of a voluntary standard that managed to bridge the energy efficiency gap," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 586-593.

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