Table 1.
Categorized responses to an open-ended question about the single most effective thing that participants could do to conserve energy in their lives
| Behavior category | Curtailment (C) or efficiency (E) | Percentage of participants |
| Turn off lights | C | 19.6 |
| Conserve energy | 15.0 | |
| Drive less/bike/use public transportation | C | 12.9 |
| Change the setting on the thermostat | C | 6.3 |
| Change my lifestyle/not have children | C | 5.9 |
| Unplug appliances | C | 5.7 |
| Shut off appliances/use appliances less | C | 4.9 |
| Recycle | 4.2 | |
| Other (for behaviors only mentioned once) | 4.0 | |
| Education/think about my actions | 3.8 | |
| Use efficient light bulbs | E | 3.6 |
| Use efficient appliances | E | 3.2 |
| Use efficient cars/hybrids | E | 2.8 |
| Sleep more/relax more | 2.8 | |
| Buy green energy/solar energy/alternative energy | 2.6 | |
| Insulate my home | E | 2.1 |
| There is no way/I don't know | 0.8 |
Some behaviors could not be unambiguously classified as curtailment or efficiency.