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Issue 52 | May 2009
A new national research study will
investigate Australia's consumption habits
Courtesy of iStockphoto
A national online survey has been launched to gather detailed information about Australian lifestyles and consumption habits. In just over four weeks, more than 1200 people nation wide have responded to the survey and the researchers are encouraging more people to participate.
This survey is part of a project being conducted by Sustainable Ecosystems, looking at household consumption patterns and behaviours to inform research and policy for alternative household choices and behaviour.
Project leader Heinz Schandl, says the survey will provide a broad view of Australian households.
'We are attempting to uncover what drives Australian consumer behaviour and how we can use that to help build a better environment and a low carbon economy', says Heinz.
'Decisions people make about where to live, how many children to raise and what major items to purchase, strongly influence the impact a society has on the physical environment.'
There is a clear relationship between the way members of a household spend their time and consume resources (be they water, energy or food) and the resource and emissions intensity of these behaviours.
'By combining qualitative and quantitative social science methods, such as interviews and surveys, the lifestyles, consumption and environmental impact project will identify types of households that share key structural attributes, behaviour patterns and prospects of changing these behaviours over time', Heinz says.
Once these household types are established, the research team will identify policy opportunities to enable households to adopt lifestyle and consumption choices that are more environmentally friendly and less carbon-intensive.
It is crucial that the survey reaches as many people from as many different backgrounds and perspectives as possible. Why not have a look at the survey yourself or send it on to your networks and help progress innovative and important research at CSIRO.
The National lifestyle survey is available online until 30 June 2009 and results of the survey will be published online.
