Institutional Conservation Program evaluation project: Results of elementary and secondary education survey pretest

As part of a study of energy conservation efforts in schools and hospitals and an evaluation of the Institutional Conservation Program sponsored by the US Department of Energy, survey instruments that will be sent to large numbers of elementary and secondary schools and school districts were pretested. The survey instruments solicit information on energy conservation activities, decision-making processes, and energy use. The pretest had several purposes, including identification of problems in the survey instruments' formats and in the wording of instructions and questions; it also helped in establishing the sampling strategy for the survey itself. Both site visits and mailings were used in the pretest. This report covers all aspects of the pretest. Characteristics of the pretest schools, districts, and interviewees are discussed in narrative summaries. Pretest procedures are described and responses to some of the survey questions are provided.