The purpose of this study is to re-examine the purpose and role of household eco-account book by studying first the household eco-account book proposed by Morioka et al. in 1980 and then those books currently in use, in order to consider its role and usefulness in society. This study also clarifies the major characteristics of 40 samples of household eco-account books. A detail examination of nine data samples gathered from the sample account books is also conducted.
The main findings and considerations are as follows :
1) Regarding its purpose and role, while Morioka et al. situate household eco-account book in the citizens' and local governments' effort to create a better environment, the current household eco-account book movement places its emphasis too much on the ability and effort of housewives themselves and furthermore lacks to treat household eco-account book as an important and positive medium to clarify the ecological problems within the existing society.
2) By using household eco-account book, the citizens become more aware of environmental issues and tend to live more ecologically, but at the same time their fill-outs demonstrate that there are obstacles for more positive behavioral change such as physical housing conditions, social systems, and business rationale.
3) This study asserts, therefore, that there is a strong need to situate the household eco-account book within the social system, and the citizens, businesses, and governments should cooperate with each other in order to change society into more ecologically sound one.
