A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION IN A GEORGIA SCHOOL DISTRICT

摘要

This study examines and evaluates an incentive management model applied to a Georgia school district. Energy conservation was the task area used to test this management procedure. Four major questions gave the direction to the research and provided two research hypotheses. These directional questions are: (1) What are the elements of an effective energy management model? (2) What outcomes of energy conservation will be produced? (3) Will the use of an incentive management model be effective with school principals in producing energy conservation in individual schools? (4) What techniques will principals employ that are effective in conserving energy?;It was hypothesized that the implementation of a financial incentive management model for energy conservation would result in a statistically significant reduction in energy consumption at each selected school when energy consumption in that school was compared to energy consumption prior to implementation of the incentive management model. This hypothesis was rejected.;It was further hypothesized that the implementation of a financial incentive management model for energy conservation would result in a statistically significant reduction in energy consumption for the composite of all experimental schools, when energy consumption in those schools was compared to energy consumption prior to implementation of the incentive management model. This second hypothesis was rejected.;Although the two major hypotheses were rejected, the research findings showed a definite savings during the period studied. Savings in energy consumption were approximately seven times greater during the experimental year than in the year prior. A definite trend for conservation was established.