Once again, one of the things I think this article is missing is an appreciation for what everyday energy users might know that the experts do not. Much like proponents of modernization theory, Dwyer pitches culture as a problem to be overcome, instead of appreciating cultural differences as a resource for crtitical insights. People aren’t behaving rationally, or they are simply ignorant: “Therefore, a concerted effort is needed to change the US culture to an emphasis on sustainability” (132). There definitely is a desperate need for energy education and certain cultural changes also need to happen, but I have doubts in this sort of top-down approach. I am curious to know how the energy system is already negatively affecting people in unexpected ways. What about enlisting critique as a way of promoting energy literacy? And that includes a critique of models of sustainability as well as fossil fuels.
I want to flip this approach to energy literacy on its head. Instead of developing a criteria of what counts as being energy literate, then testing the population and/or seeing if you can imrove their score, let's hold our definition of energy literacy in abeyance. Or, better yet, assume people are already energy literate in different ways. Let's then try to understand the diversity of ways in which diverse communities are energy literate and bring that knowledge back to our conception of how energy systems work. You know... like ethnography/anthropology.
