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Household Consumption Patterns

There are encouraging signs of change underway in households - perhaps the most basic place where adjustments in consumption patterns can yield enormous reductions in costs, and in use of materials and energy. Trends include growing consumer wariness of advertising, a tendency to keep cars longer, and a strong public commitment to recycling.

Many conference participants saw the household as a logical place to focus efforts and attention. Participants in the small working group cited work underway by Consumers Union, Coop America, Global Action Plan, and the New Road Map Foundation. Each of these organizations provides information and guidance to individuals and communities interested in living a less consumptive and more sustainable lifestyle. Some participants expressed the need for cost/benefit analyses and scenarios that would explore the consequences of widespread changes in consumption patterns on individual, community, and system levels.

In a small group and in later discussions, participants identified priorities for households including:

• Improved energy efficiency.
• Waste reduction.
• Reduced use of chemicals.
• Diet; eating lower on the food chain.
• Education about the impacts of household consumption patterns.
• Behavior change/downshifting.
• Less or no TV
• More creative play for children and adults
• Gardening
• Examining values and life goals
• Slowing down
• Creating consumer demand for RgreenS products.