December 28th, 2017 | Updated on April 5th, 2024
Millenials have been called many things, from too PC to being too lazy. If there’s one thing you can’t call a millennial, it’s apathetic.
A majority of millennials agree that preserving the environment is one of the most important challenges of their generation.
The largest impact of millennials in this effort is from challenging existing structures to make the market more eco-friendly.
Millennials prefer corporate responsibility over profitability and farm-to-table over fast food.
This has dramatically altered the utility-supplier relationship, shifting the procurement strategy to reflect greener and more energy efficient technologies.
According to the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative’s (SECC) survey of millenials, 50% of respondents stated that they were more likely to invest in energy-efficient technologies, if endorsed by their utility supplier.
Here are some more ways millennials are championing sustainable energy decisions globally.
1. Alternative Forms of Transit
In the old days, getting a driver’s license was once a right of passage. For millennials growing up in the recession and with ridesharing apps, buying new and expensive cars seems less attractive.
In fact, a study by the University of Michigan showed that only 69% of young people possessed a driver’s license in 2013, compared to 87% in 1983.
With apps like Uber and Lyft growing to seismic proportions, ride sharing and public transportation have become the new standard.
Countless cities from Atlanta to Seattle are investing green solutions to public transportation, including hybrid buses and public bike rentals.
2. Embracing Technology
It’s no secret that millennials are much more tech savvy than their forefathers.
With everything from low-cost LED bulbs to smart meters that allow homeowners to properly regulate energy costs, millennials prefer sustainable technology over cheap technology.
Even millenials’ obsession with mobile tech has helped to relieve a great strain on many homes’ utility bills caused by home computers and console games.
3. Making Their Demands Heard
It used to be that if you wanted change something, somebody would direct you to your congressman.
Nowadays, social media is one of the most powerful tools shaping the democratic process and even the market.
If there’s one way millennials use technology to enforce change, it’s by publically destroying companies that don’t adhere to social responsibility.
Whether it’s protesting companies, such as BP or Delta Airlines, the power of the people is heard in full scale over social media.
Even on the small scale, establishing better connections between customers and energy suppliers helps to create better service offerings that promote sustainability, since this is what millenials demand.
4. Increasing Transparency
By constantly challenging the supply chain of products, whether it’s manufactured in a sweatshop or comes from the rainforest, this information is not lost on millenials.
This great push to purchase from responsible and trustworthy brands has forced many companies to open up transparency in everything from food ingredients to clothing materials.
Furthermore, this has opened up opportunities for companies to profit off of recycled materials and organic ingredients by complying with the demands of the marketplace.
5. A Greener Future
Granted, process toward full sustainability and zero emissions is slow, but millennials still serve as the main catalyst to this change.
Their distrust of corporate sleaze and demand for organic foods and materials has forced companies to change their practices.
This generation will soon run the planet, if they don’t already, so it’s time to start shaping it in their vision.
