An Analysis of Energy Conservation Among U.S. Age Cohorts‪.‬

INTRODUCTION Energy conservation has emerged as a prominent issue within American society. Scientific research has found that an increase in electricity usage has caused the U.S. carbon footprint to expand in size. Just recently, the Senate Energy Chairman Jeff Bingaman began drafting legislation to cap greenhouse gas emissions from energy power plants (Bravener, 2010). The attention placed on the harmful effects of energy consumption can be attributed to environmental groups and government organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency. These organizations have found that the industrial, transportation, commercial and residential sectors have created many of the greenhouse gas effects (Energy Information Administration, 2009). According to Figure 1, the residential sector has surpassed the commercial, industrial and transportation sector in energy consumption and thus greenhouse gas emissions. Many policy makers, environmental organizations and business are beginning to request information regarding how energy and environmental conservation can become a way of life. This paper will explore such a question by examining age cohorts and their energy consumption patterns.