Do Americans Feel Guilty About Wasting Energy?

Whether it’s blasting the AC in the summer or letting the shower run a little too long, energy-wasting habits can come with a sense of guilt. A new survey explored how often Americans feel bad about their energy use and what it takes to actually change those behaviors. From generational guilt gaps to the habits that stir up the most tension at home, the results reveal where Americans draw the line between comfort and conscience.

Key Takeaways

• Over 1 in 4 Americans (26%) feel guilty about their energy use at least a few times per week.
• Nearly 1 in 10 Americans (9%) have lied about their energy habits to avoid seeming wasteful.
• 31% of Americans value comfort and convenience over guilt, explaining why they continue their energy-wasting habits.
• Americans feel most guilty about leaving the lights on in unoccupied rooms, with 59% of all respondents sharing this, while Gen Z (64%) feels the most guilty about it.

Who Feels the Most Guilt About Wasting Energy?

The study makes some interesting findings about energy consumption guilt across different habits. The level of guilt also varies across generations.

Frequency of Feeling Guilt

Over 1 in 4 Americans (26%) feel guilty about their energy use at least a few times per week:

• Gen X is the most likely to feel guilty daily (9%).
• Millennials are the most likely to feel guilty at least a few times per week (30%).
• Remote workers are the most likely to feel guilty daily (9%).

Habits That Led to the Most Guilt

• Americans feel the most guilty when leaving lights on in unoccupied rooms (59%), letting the water run for a long time (49%), and cranking up the AC or heat (43%).
  • Gen Z is the most likely to feel guilty for leaving light on in empty rooms (64%).
• Gen Z is the most likely to take long showers or frequent baths (39%), while Gen X is the most likely to leave the TV on when they aren’t watching it (42%).

Beliefs Around Energy Use and Guilt

• Americans are two times more likely to believe they use less energy than the average household (39%) than to think they use more (19%).
• Nearly 1 in 10 Americans (9%) have lied about their energy habits to avoid seeming wasteful, and Gen Z is the most likely to have done so (19%).
• When it comes to responsibility for conservation efforts, 38% of Americans believe corporations are most responsible for reducing energy waste, while only 11% believe individuals are responsible.
  • Gen Z is the most likely to blame corporations.
• 30% of Americans have guilt-tripped a roommate, partner, friend, or family member about wasting energy or water in their home.
  • Women are the most likely to have done this (33%).

What Guilt Can and Can’t Convince Americans To Change

Despite the negative feelings associated with waste, 31% of Americans report that they value comfort and convenience over guilt, explaining why they continue their energy-wasting habits. Gen Z is the most likely to say it’s just a habit (44%).

Tempting Comforts

• Cranking up the heat or AC is the hardest energy habit to give up (21%), according to Americans.
• While 42% of Americans would give up their top guilty pleasure energy or water habit for $25 or less, 23% would only be convinced if they received $100 or more, and 8% would never give it up.
  • 58% of Gen Z would give up their top guilty pleasure energy or water habit for $25 or less.
  • 26% of Gen X would only be convinced if they received $100 or more, and 11% would never give it up.

Energy Costs

• When asked why they feel guilty about wasting energy or water, Americans most often say it’s because it increases their electricity, water, or gas bill (62%).
• As for when the guilt hits people, the most common time is after they see their utility bill (52%), followed by when they realize they left something on (51%).
• Only 38% of Americans say that guilt stops them from wasting energy regularly.
  • 49% say guilt stops them once in a while, and 13% say it never stops them or that energy use doesn’t cause them to feel any guilt.
  • 44% of Gen Z report that guilt stops them from wasting energy regularly.
• 54% of Americans claim a guilt rating on their utility bill would possibly influence their energy-wasting behavior, while 24% would find it annoying.

Methodology

For this study, we surveyed 1,010 Americans about their feelings of guilt, or lack thereof, when it comes to their energy use. Generationally, 5% of respondents were baby boomers, 28% were Gen X, 52% were millennials, and 16% were Gen Z. In addition, 34% of respondents reported working in person, 27% reported working remotely, 24% reported working a hybrid schedule, and 15% reported not working.

About Payless Power

Payless Power provides affordable prepaid electricity plans to Texas residents, helping families and individuals access reliable power without credit checks or hefty deposits. For households impacted by outages and looking for flexible options, Payless Power offers simple plans designed to keep budgets in check while providing the electricity people depend on every day.

Fair Use Statement

This content may be shared for noncommercial purposes only. If you’d like to reference or feature this study, please include a link to Payless Power with proper attribution.

URL copied to clipboard