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How consumers feel about energy: attitudes and behavior during the winter and spring of 1976--77

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6403983· OSTI ID:6403983
The winter of 1976--1977 was one of the coldest in the nation's history and brought to the American people a reminder that there is an energy problem. The new President also brought new policy proposals focused on the nautral gas shortage and other long-standing energy issues. This paper describes and analyzes the results of several surveys of the American public conducted from February through May of 1977. These surveys outline the effects on American consumers of the cold, the natural gas crisis, and the Carter Administration's energy policy proposals. The surveys show that people are most concerned about the rising cost of energy, are poorly informed about broader implications of the energy situation, are concerned about energy shortages that affect them personally, would prefer to make no sacrifices, but if necessary, prefer sacrifices that are equitable.
Research Organization:
Department of Energy, Washington, DC (USA). Office of Conservation and Solar Applications
OSTI ID:
6403983
Report Number(s):
DOE/TIC-10036
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English