
Source: DALL-E / OpenAI
Co-written by Jon Gruda and Paul Hanges.
When we think about energy conservation, we often focus on what’s tangible: turning off lights, insulating windows, or installing a smart thermostat. But what if the real drivers of our energy habits run deeper, shaped not just by our present choices but also by our past experiences and the people around us? In our recent research paper, we explored these hidden dynamics, revealing how childhood home temperatures and our sense of belonging in a community—what we call “community fit”—interact to shape our household energy consumption.
A Tale of Two Temperatures
Many of us don’t consider how our childhood homes might influence our current thermostat settings. Yet, think back to your earliest winters. Were you wrapped in blankets, heating your space sparingly? Or was your home toasty enough to wear a T-shirt indoors? These early experiences create a “thermal baseline”—a deeply ingrained sense of comfort that often carries into adulthood. Our study surveyed 2,128 participants across the United States, collecting data on their current thermostat settings, childhood home temperatures, and feelings of community fit. By pairing this with archival temperature data, we uncovered how early thermal comfort experiences and a strong sense of belonging to one’s community interact to shape home energy use. Our findings show a strong connection between these early experiences and current behavior. Participants who grew up in warmer homes tended to keep their thermostats set higher as adults, regardless of external temperatures. This isn’t about laziness or ignorance but rather the powerful pull of habits formed during formative years.
It Takes a Village, or Does It?
While family sets the stage, community plays the second act. Community fit, or how deeply connected we feel to the place we live, emerged as a key factor in shaping our energy use. Those with a strong sense of belonging were more likely to align their thermostat settings with local norms. In colder states, this often meant keeping homes cooler, while in warmer areas, it meant the opposite.
Interestingly, this adaptation wasn’t just about social pressure or saving money. Instead, it was about subtle, almost unconscious alignment with the collective practices of one’s neighbors. For people with low community fit, these local influences had far less impact, leading to more individualistic energy behaviors.
What This Means for Energy Conservation
Our research suggests a fresh approach to promoting sustainable energy use. Financial incentives and technology, while helpful, often miss the mark because they don’t address these deeper behavioral patterns. Instead, fostering stronger community connections could yield better results. Imagine campaigns that celebrate collective achievements, such as a neighborhood’s shared reduction in energy use, or city designs that emphasize communal spaces to deepen residents’ sense of belonging.
If we want to save energy—and, by extension, our planet—it’s time to rethink our strategies. Energy use isn’t just about gadgets or budgets; it’s about the interplay of history, identity, and community. By addressing these often-overlooked dimensions, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future—one thermostat setting at a time.
Paul Hanges is professor of psychology at the University of Maryland.