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Is Our Children Learning? Barriers to K-12 Energy Efficiency Education in Connecticut
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| Presenter(s):
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| Timothy Pettit,
Nexus Market Research Inc,
pettit@nexusmarketresearch.com
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| Charles Bruckerhoff,
Curriculum Research & Evaluation Inc,
charles@creus.com
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| Abstract:
The K-12 energy efficiency program evaluated in this proposed paper is an energy efficiency learning initiative implemented by the investor-owned utilities in Connecticut, called eeSmarts. The program's goals are to develop an energy-efficient ethic among all school-age students, encouraging them to incorporate energy efficient practices and behaviors into their lives at home and at school. This process evaluation focused on assessing adequate delivery of the program, identifying barriers to implementation, as well as evaluating progress toward stated goals. The evaluators concluded that although the program was being delivered as designed, the program was not progressing toward its stated goals. In conclusion, the evaluators recommended redesigning the program to emphasize program activities with more certain and measurable short-term indicators of program progress, such as teachers trained who are using the program materials, instead of nearly unmeasurable long-term indicators such as energy savings due to the program.
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If You Offer it, Will They Buy it?: Differentiating the Program From the Market in a Voluntary Clean Energy Purchasing Program
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| Presenter(s):
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| Greg Clendenning,
Nexus Market Research Inc,
clendenning@nexusmarketresearch.com
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| Bob Wall,
Connecticut Clean Energy Fund,
bob.wall@ctinnovations.com
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| Timothy Pettit,
Nexus Market Research Inc,
pettit@nexusmarketresearch.com
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| Lynn Hoefgen,
Nexus Market Research Inc,
hoefgen@nexusmarketresearch.com
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| Abstract:
Voluntary clean energy purchasing programs are available to more than one-half of all U.S. electricity consumers across 34 states. We evaluated the impacts of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund's (CCEF) voluntary clean energy purchasing program by comparing public awareness of and attitudes toward clean energy among residents of Connecticut and the U.S. using data from annual surveys conducted in the spring of 2005 and 2006, and a planned survey in 2007. One year into CCEF's campaign, awareness of clean energy, ratings of the importance of global warming, recognition of CCEF and affiliated organizations, and personal actions related to clean energy have all increased among Connecticut residents. However, willingness to pay a premium for clean energy has remained largely the same and appears to be limited by lack of awareness of clean energy and its availability as well as skepticism that clean energy can be produced in sufficient quantities.
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