An American energy contradiction: Policy orientation and residential sector energy conservation in the United States

This dissertation argues that the underutilization of energy conservation options is the result of an antagonistic policy environment that favors supply over savings. It is further argued that when a constructive policy orientation is put in place, even at a modest level, energy conservation achievements are substantial and increase beyond what can be explained by intervening non-policy factors.;The research examines the role of energy policy since the Second World War. It identifies a national policy orientation of energy abundance in which energy consumption is equated with social progress. This policy orientation has led the United States to focus on energy supply issues. As a result, the residential sector, which is consumption-based, has attracted little national policy interest.;An empirical analysis of the role of policy orientation towards energy conservation was conducted using the American federalist structure of policy implementation. This research concentrates on a 16-year period from 1970 to 1986--including the two major world energy crises--and compares predicted and actual energy savings in the residential sector among states grouped according to the level of their commitment to energy conservation. The major findings are: (1) state energy consumption growth was inversely related to state activism in developing and implementing conservation-oriented policies; (2) the effect of state policy orientation was consistent over time and across the states according to the degree of conservation policy commitment; (3) if states rated as low and medium in their conservation policy commitments had behaved as the high conservation commitment states did, there would have been an additional energy savings of over six quads between 1978 and 1986 in the residential sector. This is equivalent to a five percent reduction in imported energy used during that period, and would have resulted in average annual savings of over ;This research concludes by identifying a national policy agenda that would promote energy conservation in the United States and defines the role of federal, state, and local levels of implementation.