Adjust the thermostat and eat more plants? Comparing energy and climate knowledge amongst botanical garden members

In 2024, the residential sector accounted for approximately 15 % of United States energy consumption and 18 % of carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption, making household behavior an important area to target for energy conservation and emissions reductions. We surveyed botanical garden members ( N = 1108) about their knowledge of the energy savings and climate mitigation potential associated with common household behaviors. We asked participants to rank six behaviors (e.g., shortening a shower from fifteen to ten minutes) in terms of their energy savings, calculating energy knowledge by examining the accuracy of participants' rankings. We also asked participants to estimate the climate mitigation potential of fourteen pro-environmental behaviors (e.g., using low-flow shower heads), calculating climate knowledge by comparing participants' estimates to estimates calculated in prior literature. While participants displayed some knowledge of the energy savings associated with household behaviors, they displayed low knowledge of the climate mitigation potential of pro-environmental behaviors. Instead, they were more likely to attribute greater mitigation potential to behaviors in which they reported engaging. Energy knowledge was unrelated to climate knowledge; however, both were predicted by political liberalism. Our findings suggest opportunities for energy and climate education and communication to support household energy conservation and emissions reductions, even amongst already environmentally engaged groups. • Members of a botanical garden had some knowledge of the energy savings associated with household behaviors. • Members of a botanical garden had low knowledge of the climate mitigation potential of pro-environmental behaviors. • Energy and climate knowledge were unrelated. • More politically liberal participants had greater energy and climate knowledge. • Findings suggest opportunities to support energy conservation and emissions reductions amongst the environmentally engaged.