EMPOWERING OLDER ADULTS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY: EDUCATIONAL IMPERATIVES & INITIATIVES David Burdick, PhD, Director, Stockton Center on Successful Aging South Jersey Energy Symposium: Implementing the Energy Master Plan The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at the Richard Stockton College of NJ March 31, 2009

I NTERSECTIONS OF A GE AND E NVIRONMENT Key Concepts … Lewin’s Behavioral Model Psychologists and the Environment B = f (P, E) … circa 1930s (“Behavior is a function of the person and the environment”) B = f (P, E, P x E) … circa 1960s (“Behavior is a function of the person, the environment, and the complex interaction of person and environment.”) Environment & Aging Taskforce, AGHE … circa (The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education recognizes the need to encourage gerontology programs to consider environment.)

I NTERSECTIONS OF A GE AND E NVIRONMENT Key Conference Concepts … NJ’s Energy Master Plan The Generation, Distribution, & Utilization of Power … Using new approaches and paradigms … To reduce waste, reduce greenhouse emissions, to(hopefully) slow or reverse global warming, in order to avoid widespread environmental degradation, severe/dangerous weather phenomena, sea-level rises, species extinction, or worse.

I NTERSECTIONS OF A GE AND E NVIRONMENT Key Concepts … NJ’s Energy Master Plan Generation : Alternate Sources: Carbon/Fossil Fuels, Nuclear, Wind, Solar, Biofuels, Hydro, etc. Co-Generation and other Hybrid concepts Distribution : Smart Grids, Microgrids, etc. Utilization : Energy Star, Smart House, Hybrid Cars, Educated Consumers (off-peak use), etc.

I NTERSECTING M EGATRENDS : G LOBAL W ARMING AND G LOBAL A GING Intersection of Aging with Global Warming “We cannot know the shape of history in the next forty years, but one prediction is safe: namely, population aging will take place rapidly, both in advanced industrialized countries as well as in the developing world.” (Moody, PPAR)

I NTERSECTING M EGATRENDS : G LOBAL W ARMING AND G LOBAL A GING Key Concepts of Aging: Distribution Population Distribution : Global Aging is clear World population over 65+ will double by 2050 Fastest in Europe, U.S., Japan (1 st to Industrialize in 20th Century). L.E. at Birth from approx. 40 in 1900 to approx. 80 in 2000! Centenarians # almost 60,000 in U.S. today. In the U.S. 65+ comprised 3% of pop in 1900, 10% in 1975, 13% now, probably 20% in In 2050 the world will have 2 Bill inhabitants 60+ For the first time our population will have more 60+ than 18 and Under! Consequences?

TERSECTING M EGATRENDS : G LOBAL W ARMING AND G LOBAL A GING Key Concepts of Aging: Generation The Aging Baby Boomers 70 Million Strong. The “Biggest Generation” Nearly 2x Size of Prior of Subsequent Generation Some Unique Characteristics in their youth: Hot Pants and Disco; neighborhood recycling Jetsons, Star Trek (“Carbon Units”), In their youth, they fully embraced the old African Proverb: “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem” How about when they grow old?

I NTERSECTING M EGATRENDS : G LOBAL W ARMING AND G LOBAL A GING Key Concepts of Aging: Utilization Our Utilization of Energy … Fossil Fuels and Older Adults The 20 th Century involved incredibly wasteful use of resources Disengagement, Mandatory Retirement Throw-Away Society & “Why Survive”? So, why change?

A GING AND E NVIRONMENT : G RAY AND G REEN – P ERFECT T OGETHER Power and Empowerment Generate … Generation … Can the “Biggest Generation” become the “Greatest Generation II”? (Encore Careers, Environmental Stewards, Legacy Leaving). Generativity … Erikson’s notion of a complete life. Intergenerational … Solidarity, Cooperation, Exchange How else can we link our concepts to reach our Energy Plan goals? Wide-scale citizen involvement is needed, and older adults are a unique and growing segment of our population.

A GING AND E NVIRONMENT : G RAY AND G REEN – P ERFECT T OGETHER Carbon Units, Carbon Fuels, Carbon Sequestering

A GING AND E NVIRONMENT : G RAY AND G REEN – P ERFECT T OGETHER Empowering Older Adults …. Smart Grids “Clearly, citizen involvement on a large scale is needed to address pressing issues of environmental conservation and sustainability … the older population can constitute a special resource for environmental action in the form of volunteerism and civic engagement” (Pillemer & Wagenet, 2008 – PPAR)

UPS Foundations Atlantic Philanthropies MetLife Case Annie E. Casey Media Connectors VolunteerMatch PBS Life Part 2 The Open Road JEoA OAA SCORE Public Policy GSA NAAS NGA Respectability Research / Education Health Benefits of Social Engagement Bowling Alone Civic Ventures Elderhostel ReServe Bridgestar Peace Corps Encore MacArthur Virginia G. Piper Successful Aging Initiative Sherry Lansing Executive Service Corps Nat’l Aging Orgs Generations United ASA AARP/ Best 50+ Employers Business Company Volunteer Programs Corporate Citizenship Get Involved New Directions Taproot Purpose Prize OLLI Hands On Network Successful Aging Smart Grid Alternative Energy: The Civic EnterpriseThe Civic Enterprise WSJ Encore Government AoA CNCS Experience Corps PrimeTime Troops to Teachers Partnerships for Public Service Senior Corps Points of Light Lifelong Access Libraries NCCCR BreakThrough Award NCOA Temple University Greg O’Neill, WHCoA Experience Wave Templeton HSPH n4a GIA WUSTL The Conference Board ITNLeadership Network Urban Institute Regeneration

EPA O LDER ADULT P ROGRAMS Government: The Environmental Protection Agency The Environmental Protection Agency Senior Initiative 1.Older Adults are more susceptible to environmental extremes, hazards, toxins. 2.Older Adults can be part of the solution: Spend more time in homes than other age groups. Home energy use accounts for about 30% of U.S. carbon emissions. Several innovative citizen involvement efforts currently underway

HIGHER EDUCATION’S ROLE As a major change agent, source of research, education, service, Higher Education must play a special and central role. Stockton Center on Successful Aging Events: (Sustainability & Empowerment Americans Face Up to the Nation's Finances, Andrew Yarrow, Ph.D., VP of Public Agenda (Washington, DC). April 16, 6pm, Alton AuditoriumAmericans Face Up to the Nation's Finances, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Kathleen Sullivan, PhD, University of Notre Dame. April 29, 6pm, Alton Auditorium., Gray and Green: Selected Older Adult Education Programs

I NTERSECTIONS OF A GE AND E NVIRONMENT Reference and Resources Generations United: Hudson, R.B. (ed.) (2008 Spring). Public Policy and Aging Report: Special Issue on Environment and Aging. National Academy on an Aging Society, 18 (2), 28 pgs. Available for purchase at: * Note: this is the source of all citations using “PPAR” in slides. Krach, Constance A. & Victoria A. Velkoff, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P23-199RV. Centenarians in the United States.U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, Available online: Stockton Center on Successful Aging ( U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Aging Initiative (