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Smith, Molly

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    Our House Is a Very, Very, Very, Green House: A Study of Sustainable Household Behaviors Across the Socioeconomic Spectrum in Vermont and New Hampshire
    (2017-05-24) Smith, Molly; Leighton, Mark; Brown-Burkins, Melody
    The motivators behind sustainable behaviors and practices in the American home are an important area of study for those interested in how “grassroots” change may influence broader societal transitions towards a more energy efficient and sustainable society. The goal of this study is to better understand the motivators behind behaviors broadly considered to lead to a more sustainable lifestyle in the American home. Specifically, this study will explore whether economic or financial status has a significant influence over these behaviors. Previous studies suggest that economic factors play a large role in determining whether or not an individual or household participates in behaviors considered to be environmentally sustainable behaviors (ESBs). In order to test this hypothesis, a survey was electronically distributed to 420 subjects across New Hampshire and Vermont. The questions in the survey (found in the appendix) focused on personal adoption of ESBs. The survey asked subjects to answer a series of questions about their habits in the home environment, with specific emphasis on ESBs related to energy consumption. The answers were then compared against several demographic factors also asked of the individual as they took the ESB survey, including the individual’s yearly income, education level, political affiliation, religious ideology, age, gender, and state of residence. Response data from the survey were analyzed using three methods: 1) a non-parametric one-way ANOVA test assuming Gaussian distribution, 2) a sustainability index, and 3) a qualitative analysis of survey responses. The results of the ANOVA test showed that the only statistically significant demographic factor in determining likelihood of participating in ESBs among the regions sampled for this study was gender, with a P-value of .0061, indicating that there is a correlation between gender and ESBs. The results of the sustainability index and qualitative analyses of survey data, while not resulting in statistically significant outcomes, did reveal points of interest that suggest additional study is warranted. The parameters of this initial study are understandably complex and, given the interconnectedness of factors and predictor variables, the results currently challenge a singular interpretation. Further research could focus on (1) streamlining survey questions, and (2) increasing the size of the survey pool to ensure greater statistical confidence in the results to both further understand the ANOVA result and potentially elucidate more statistically significant findings for other demographic factors. This field of study is of clear importance to those working to develop a better understanding of motivators for community-based engagement in environmentally sustainable behaviors.