Public Engagement, Lifestyle Calculators & CO 2 Emissions Shui Bin and Hadi Dowlatabadi Center for Integrated Study of the Human Dimensions of Global Change, Carnegie Mellon University CIS oƒ HDGC Carnegie Mellon

2 CIS oƒ HDGC Carnegie Mellon Motivation Our consumption and production behavior are a defining feature of the human dimension of global change. If we are interested in addressing global change issues we need to understand the motivations and information shaping human decisions. We need a tool that can serve both to inform individuals about their options and give us more insight into these choices. We believe that studies focussed on government action and aggregate economic models are insufficient where individual decision-makers will be playing such an important role.

3 CIS oƒ HDGC Carnegie Mellon Objectives For policy analysis: » Information on how well informed the public is. » Information on whether being better informed would impact their decisions. » Information on how they would meet a marginal reduction CO2 emissions. » Information on energy services they cannot imagine doing without, if we need to meet a tough CO2 target. For individual decision-makers: » Information about the consequences of their lifestyle choices. » Options for changing their patterns of activity and/or its impacts. For industry: » Information on market potential for greener technologies.

4 CIS oƒ HDGC Carnegie Mellon Design Issues  Gain the public’s trust. Earlier studies have shown this can best be achieved by displaying detailed knowledge of local conditions. A Pittsburgher want it noted that the terrain here is particularly hilly and hence vehicle fuel efficiency suffers.  Ask questions the public are likely to have accurate answers for. Energy quantities are rarely known. Even monthly expenditures may be difficult to recall and aggregate into annual values.  Value the respondents’ time. As the user spends more time, the questions serve to refine the accuracy and details based on the value of that information.  Give behaviorally appropriate cost and benefit information. This is essential to study of public’s decisions.  Be transparent in calculations. These should be accessible to users if requested.

5 CIS oƒ HDGC Carnegie Mellon An overview of established lifestyle calculators (1) Shareware from UC Davis Overall impact of CO2 emission, energy consumption, waste, and land use. Interface lasts at least 45 minutes. Does not represent local conditions. Shareware from EAWAG Focussed on personal energy use and CO2 emissions caused by food intake, transportation, housing, and paper consumption. Interface lasts 10 minutes. Does not represent local conditions.

6 CIS oƒ HDGC Carnegie Mellon An overview of established lifestyle calculators (2) Internet software from CMU Focussed on energy use and CO2 emissions by Pittsburgh households. Interface lasts 20 minutes Does represent local conditions. Internet software from LBL Focussed on energy use and energy bills of residential buildings. Interface last from 5 to 40 minutes depending on how detailed information a participant wants. Does represent local conditions. A Energy, Carbon Dioxide, and Cost calculator for the Pittsburgh MSA Use the Personal Calculator Introduction  Background  Screen-shots Modules  Household heating and Cooling  Appliances  Transportation  Other Consumption and Food

7 CIS oƒ HDGC Carnegie Mellon New Calculator from CMU (1) -Categories Home energy use » Including four sub modules: heating and cooling, water heating, appliances (refrigerator, TV, home computer, …), and lighting; Food consumption » Including cereal and grain, meat, fish, egg, vegetable, fruit... Transportation » Including three sub modules: private vehicle (car, truck,..), public transportation (bus, subway, …), and air travel. Entertainment » Including three sub modules: workdays (TV, newspaper), weekends (TV, travel by car, a new book), vocations (travel by air…)

8 CIS oƒ HDGC Carnegie Mellon New Calculator from CMU (2) -Challenges Boundaries determination: CO2 emission from electricity consumption of a refrigerator is a consumption-side emission. However, the calculation of CO2 emission from food consumption is a production-side emission. Does a uniform boundary (all consumption-side emission), or a mixed one make more sense? Cost-benefit information: it is expected to get the full-list of cost-benefit information related to options considered in the new Calculator. Unit Energy Consumption (UEC) and CO2 emission estimation: how much CO2 emission or UEC is produced by publishing a new book? Local-interest realization: the local climate condition will be considered in calculating energy consumption of heating and cooling.But, other categories are difficult to be integrated to local conditions because of unavailable information. Time-accuracy trade off: Shorter questionnaire is desirable for participants but difficult for designers. Both a 15-minute questionnaire and a 30-minute one will be available.

9 CIS oƒ HDGC Carnegie Mellon Comparing Lifestyles of A Student in China & US

10 CIS oƒ HDGC Carnegie Mellon Comparing Lifestyles of A Professor in China & US