Goals: The goal of this project was to design and implement a community-based intervention to reduce household energy use. We conducted a successful randomized controlled trial with 30 Girl Scout troops to assess two behavior change interventions focused on energy use in (1) residences and (2) for food and transportation.

The results, published in Nature Energy, demonstrate that a behavioral intervention targeting Girl Scouts can improve their energy conservation behaviors and provides evidence of diffusion of behavior changes from children to their parents/families. We have since developed an online course to help troop leaders implement our energy-saving programs with their own troops.

Collaborators:  Nicole Ardoin, Carrie Armel, June Flora, Tom Robinson

Funders and Partners: ARPA-E; State of California Energy Commission; Precourt Energy Efficiency Center, Stanford University; Girl Scouts of Northern California