Feedback is essential to life. Without feedback systems we would get too hot, forget to eat, fail to come in from the cold rain, and stay out in the sun too long.

One of the blessings of having a spouse or partner is to give us feedback. “Are you wearing that tonight?!”



Here are 3 stories of feedback systems that help conserve energy, reduce waste, and save fuel-all good things.

In Denmark some years ago, there were 2 identical subdivisions built near each other. There was only one significant difference between them. In one subdivision, the contractor mistakenly put the electric meter next to the main entry instead of the side door. The result? One third less energy consumption in those households that saw their meter spinning as they came and went. The only difference was feedback.

At Dartmouth, an instructor had all her students carry a black plastic trash bag with them for a week. All of their “trash” – packaging, food scraps, non recyclables, etc. had to go in the bag. The bags began to fill. By week’s end students were generating only a fraction of the waste they had been generating at the beginning of the week. More feedback.

Some cars, like the Prius, have mileage displays to show current fuel consumption in miles per gallon. Simply haying this display reduces fuel usage. “Hypermileage“clubs and websites have sprung up to shave driving tips, with some users managing to get 80, 90,100 mpg- all powered by feedback.

Someone once suggested that the quickest way to eliminate waste and pollution would be to have every factory owner live downwind from their smokestacks and downstream from their effluent pipes. Another suggested the way to zero emission vehicles would be to vent the exhaust pipe into the passenger compartment. Direct feedback spurs direct action.

So keep your eyes on that mileage display, mount your electric meter by the front door, and sling that trash bag over your shoulder. Put your waste where you can keep an eye on it. Became the fastest way to change your behavior is to get some feedback.