Ever taken an energy survey to test your knowledge as well as assess your attitudes toward energy specific topics? Would you pass if you did? The following is an overview of the first every national energy literacy survey.
National Energy Literacy Survey Overview
During the 2016-17 school year, NEF launched an unprecedented national initiative called the National Energy Literacy Survey. In partnership with Cicero Social Impact, a prominent market research firm, we surveyed 2,005 high school seniors across the country to measure their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to energy.
Energy literacy, as defined by the US Department of Energy, is “an understanding of the nature and role of energy in the world and daily lives accompanied by the ability to apply this understanding to answer questions and solve problems.” Energy literacy extends beyond simple scientific knowledge. It includes both a clear understanding of energy systems and an ability and willingness to use that knowledge.
Energy Survey Targets High School Seniors
What do these young and eager citizens think about energy issues? What have they been taught about consumption? How will they balance the economic and environmental impacts of energy production and use?
NEF targeted high school seniors for this national energy survey because of their pivotal age. Because students are transitioning into young adulthood and taking on greater responsibility for energy consumption and voting choices. Students are also at the end of their K-12 experience. What have they learned, and what kind of attitudes and behaviors have they developed?
As energy topics and conversations drive the opinions of today, the voters and decision makers of the future will have a say in the national energy policies of tomorrow.
The following energy survey resources will provide a little taste of the answers to the above questions. But the most relative insight of all is this: Although students have a basic understanding of energy efficiency, many gaps and misconceptions about energy still exist. There is still much work to do.
National Energy Literacy Survey Resources
- High School Student Data Series – a look at the results of 10 survey questions on the NEF Blog
- Official White Paper – National Energy Literacy Survey
- Slide Deck – National Energy Literacy Survey – for specific survey info and data.
- National Energy Literacy Poster
- Questionnaire – National Energy Literacy Survey
- Curriculum Correlations for survey questionnaire
- Tomorrow’s Energy Consumers – a blog post on the National Energy Literacy Survey
- Spring 2018 InterNEF: National Energy Literacy Survey – an issue of our industry publication dedicated to the survey findings