Greening Household Behaviour: The Role of Public Policy

This course introduces students to concepts and methodologies of social statistics, and how data analysis is used to assess variation in the physical and social world. The course is about quantitative techniques and analysis; about looking at how data is collected and issues of survey design; and about how data is used in forming policy. This is not simply a statistics course – it will give students a good grounding in quantitative methods, data collection, interpretation and possible policy implications of their findings. Guest lectures will show how statistics are applied in the wider world of industry and the public sector.

Greening Household Behaviour: The Role of Public Policy

• Governments have attempted to encourage households to account for environmental impacts in their consumption decisions and their purchases and practices

o Phasing out of incandescent light bulbds

o Intro of energy performance labels for homes

o Tax incentives to purchase alternative-fuelled vehicles

Providing the right economic incentive is key

• Price-based incentives encourage energy and water savings

o Water use – meter use 20% less water than those who are not charged

o More likely to install water-efficient equipment at home

o Charging households for mixed waste they generate, increases recycling volumes

o Higher fuel costs – reduced car ownership

• Pricing consumption on volumetric basis provides households with more information about their own consumption patterns

• People take more responsibility for their own consumption

Information and education play a significant complementary role

• Found that as people become more informed and have public education about the issue, can induce changes to demand more environmental policies

• Respondents that have a concern for the environment more likely to adopt practices and make investments reducing environmental impact

• Concern for environment influences demand for energy-efficient appliances and renewable energy