Energy, Climate, and Behavior
Photo courtesy of Mark Turnauckas
Overview of Research
The behavior of individuals in their homes and in their cars accounts for approximately one-third of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States. Conservation and efficiency within this sector represents one of the most cost-effective and rapid opportunities for reducing emissions over the near-term to mitigate climate change. My research in this area is geared towards answering the question: how can we better design programs and policies to encourage pro-environmental behavior? This requires an understanding of the factors that influence beliefs, attitudes, and behavior.
My work in this area explores the following core research questions:
The behavior of individuals in their homes and in their cars accounts for approximately one-third of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States. Conservation and efficiency within this sector represents one of the most cost-effective and rapid opportunities for reducing emissions over the near-term to mitigate climate change. My research in this area is geared towards answering the question: how can we better design programs and policies to encourage pro-environmental behavior? This requires an understanding of the factors that influence beliefs, attitudes, and behavior.
My work in this area explores the following core research questions:
- To what extent do myths and misunderstandings drive energy consumption?
- What behaviors present the best opportunities for programs and policies to reduce GHG emissions through behavior change?
- What methods of communicating information are most effective in inducing pro-environmental behavior?
- Does learning about adaptation to climate change affect risk perceptions and willingness to support or engage in climate change mitigation?
- To what extent does the adoption of one pro-environmental action affect the likelihood, positively or negative, of adopting subsequent actions?
Publications
Truelove, H.B., Yeung, K.L., Carrico, A.R., Gillis, A.J., & Raimi, K. T. (2016). From plastic bottle recycling to policy support: An experimental test of pro-environmental behavior spillover. Journal of Environmental Psychology, in press.
Raimi, K.T. & Carrico, A.R. (2016). Understanding and beliefs about smart energy technology. Energy Research & Social Science, in press
Carrico, A.R., Truelove, H.B., Vandenbergh, M.P., Dana, D. (2014). Does learning about climate change adaptation change support for mitigation? Journal of Environmental Psychology, in press.
Truelove, H.B.^, Carrico, A.R.^, Weber, E., Raimi, K.T., Vandenbergh, M.P., Gerrard, M. (2014). Positive and negative spillover of pro-environmental behavior. Global Environmental Change, 29, 127-138.
Carrico, A. R., Spoden, M., Wallston, K.A., Vandenbergh, M.P. (2013). The environmental cost of misinformation: Why the recommendation to use warm water for handwashing is problematic. International Journal of Consumer Studies, in press (doi: 10.1111/ijcs.12012).
Carrico, A.R., Fraser, J., Bazuin, J.T. (2012). Green with envy: Psychological and social predictors of lawn fertilizer application, Environment and Behavior, DOI: 10.1177/0013916511434637 (print edition in press).
Carrico, A. R., Riemer, M. (2011) Motivating energy conservation in the workplace: An evaluation of the use of group-level feedback and peer education. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31(1), 1 – 13.
Vandenbergh, M.P., Carrico, A.R., Bressman, L.S. (2011). Regulation in the behavioral era. Minnesota Law Review, 95(3), 715 – 781.
Carrico, A.R., Vandenbergh, M.P., Stern, P.C., Gardner, G.T., Dietz, T., Gilligan, J.M. (2011). Energy and climate change: Key lessons for implementing the behavioral wedge. Journal of Energy and Environmental Law, Winter, 61 – 67.
Carrico, A. R., Padgett, P., Vandenbergh, M. P., Gilligan, J. & Wallston, K. A. (2009). Costly myths: An analysis of idling beliefs and behavior in personal motor vehicles. Energy Policy, 37, 2881 – 2888.
Truelove, H.B., Yeung, K.L., Carrico, A.R., Gillis, A.J., & Raimi, K. T. (2016). From plastic bottle recycling to policy support: An experimental test of pro-environmental behavior spillover. Journal of Environmental Psychology, in press.
Raimi, K.T. & Carrico, A.R. (2016). Understanding and beliefs about smart energy technology. Energy Research & Social Science, in press
Carrico, A.R., Truelove, H.B., Vandenbergh, M.P., Dana, D. (2014). Does learning about climate change adaptation change support for mitigation? Journal of Environmental Psychology, in press.
Truelove, H.B.^, Carrico, A.R.^, Weber, E., Raimi, K.T., Vandenbergh, M.P., Gerrard, M. (2014). Positive and negative spillover of pro-environmental behavior. Global Environmental Change, 29, 127-138.
Carrico, A. R., Spoden, M., Wallston, K.A., Vandenbergh, M.P. (2013). The environmental cost of misinformation: Why the recommendation to use warm water for handwashing is problematic. International Journal of Consumer Studies, in press (doi: 10.1111/ijcs.12012).
Carrico, A.R., Fraser, J., Bazuin, J.T. (2012). Green with envy: Psychological and social predictors of lawn fertilizer application, Environment and Behavior, DOI: 10.1177/0013916511434637 (print edition in press).
Carrico, A. R., Riemer, M. (2011) Motivating energy conservation in the workplace: An evaluation of the use of group-level feedback and peer education. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31(1), 1 – 13.
Vandenbergh, M.P., Carrico, A.R., Bressman, L.S. (2011). Regulation in the behavioral era. Minnesota Law Review, 95(3), 715 – 781.
Carrico, A.R., Vandenbergh, M.P., Stern, P.C., Gardner, G.T., Dietz, T., Gilligan, J.M. (2011). Energy and climate change: Key lessons for implementing the behavioral wedge. Journal of Energy and Environmental Law, Winter, 61 – 67.
Carrico, A. R., Padgett, P., Vandenbergh, M. P., Gilligan, J. & Wallston, K. A. (2009). Costly myths: An analysis of idling beliefs and behavior in personal motor vehicles. Energy Policy, 37, 2881 – 2888.
Funding
2013 – 2016 National Science Foundation: Rebound vs. Gateway Effects of Pro-Environmental Behavior (NSF-SES 1325660). PI: Amanda Carrico with H. Truelove, E. Weber, M. Vandenbergh, and M. Gerrard. Amount awarded: $497,949.
2013 – 2016 National Science Foundation: Rebound vs. Gateway Effects of Pro-Environmental Behavior (NSF-SES 1325660). PI: Amanda Carrico with H. Truelove, E. Weber, M. Vandenbergh, and M. Gerrard. Amount awarded: $497,949.
