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Effects of a behaviour change intervention for Girl Scouts on child and parent energy-saving behaviours

Author

Listed:
  • Hilary Boudet

    (Sociology, School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, 300B Gilkey Hall)

  • Nicole M. Ardoin

    (Graduate School of Education and Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, 485 Lasuen Mall)

  • June Flora

    (Human Sciences and Technologies Advanced Research Institute, Graduate School of Education and Solutions Science Lab, School of Medicine, Stanford University)

  • K. Carrie Armel

    (Precourt Energy Efficiency Center, Stanford University)

  • Manisha Desai

    (Quantitative Sciences Unit, School of Medicine, Stanford University)

  • Thomas N. Robinson

    (Stanford Solutions Science Lab, School of Medicine, Stanford University)

Abstract

Energy education programmes for children are hypothesized to have great potential to save energy. Such interventions are often assumed to impact child and family behaviours. Here, using a cluster-randomized controlled trial with 30 Girl Scout troops in Northern California, we assess the efficacy of two social cognitive theory-based interventions focused on residential and food-and-transportation energy-related behaviours of Girl Scouts and their families. We show that Girl Scouts and parents in troops randomly assigned to the residential energy intervention significantly increased their self-reported residential energy-saving behaviours immediately following the intervention and after more than seven months of follow-up, compared with controls. Girl Scouts in troops randomly assigned to the food-and-transportation energy intervention significantly increased their self-reported food-and-transportation energy-saving behaviours immediately following the intervention, compared with controls, but not at follow-up. The results demonstrate that theory-based, child-focused energy interventions have the potential to increase energy-saving behaviours among both children and their parents.

Suggested Citation

  • Hilary Boudet & Nicole M. Ardoin & June Flora & K. Carrie Armel & Manisha Desai & Thomas N. Robinson, 2016. "Effects of a behaviour change intervention for Girl Scouts on child and parent energy-saving behaviours," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(8), pages 1-10, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:1:y:2016:i:8:d:10.1038_nenergy.2016.91
    DOI: 10.1038/nenergy.2016.91
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Hao & Wang, Zhao-Hua & Zhang, Bin, 2023. "How social interaction induce energy-saving behaviors in buildings: Interpersonal & passive interactions v.s. public & active interactions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    2. Kyungeun Sung & Tim Cooper & Sarah Kettley, 2019. "Developing Interventions for Scaling Up UK Upcycling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-31, July.
    3. Jaime, Marcela & Salazar, César & Alpizar, Francisco & Carlsson, Fredrik, 2023. "Can school environmental education programs make children and parents more pro-environmental?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    4. McAndrew, Ryan & Mulcahy, Rory & Gordon, Ross & Russell-Bennett, Rebekah, 2021. "Household energy efficiency interventions: A systematic literature review," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    5. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Kester, Johannes & Heida, Vimke, 2019. "Cars and kids: Childhood perceptions of electric vehicles and sustainable transport in Denmark and the Netherlands," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 182-192.
    6. Sideri Lefkeli & Evangelos Manolas & Konstantinos Ioannou & Georgios Tsantopoulos, 2018. "Socio-Cultural Impact of Energy Saving: Studying the Behaviour of Elementary School Students in Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Sandra Parth & Maximilian Schickl & Lars Keller & Johann Stoetter, 2020. "Quality Child–Parent Relationships and Their Impact on Intergenerational Learning and Multiplier Effects in Climate Change Education. Are We Bridging the Knowledge–Action Gap?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-16, August.
    8. Marla T. H. Hahnraths & Maartje Willeboordse & Annick D. H. M. Jungbauer & Corina de Gier & Carlien Schouten & Constant P. van Schayck, 2021. "“Mummy, Can I Join a Sports Club?” A Qualitative Study on the Impact of Health-Promoting Schools on Health Behaviours in the Home Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-15, November.
    9. Holly Caggiano & Sonya Ahamed & William Lytle & Chelsea Schelly & Kristin Floress & Cara L. Cuite & Rachael Shwom, 2023. "Green roles at home: exploring the impact of household social dynamic processes on consumption at the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 13(2), pages 298-311, June.
    10. Steinert, Janina Isabel & Cluver, Lucie Dale & Meinck, Franziska & Doubt, Jenny & Vollmer, Sebastian, 2018. "Household economic strengthening through financial and psychosocial programming: Evidence from a field experiment in South Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 443-466.
    11. Ponce de Leon Barido, Diego & Suffian, Stephen & Kammen, Daniel M. & Callaway, Duncan, 2018. "Opportunities for behavioral energy efficiency and flexible demand in data-limited low-carbon resource constrained environments," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 512-523.
    12. Holly Berman & Rachael Shwom & Cara Cuite, 2019. "Becoming FEW Conscious: A Conceptual Typology of Household Behavior Change Interventions Targeting the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-24, September.
    13. Lindgren, Samantha, 2021. "Cookstove implementation and Education for Sustainable Development: A review of the field and proposed research agenda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).

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