Avoid-Shift-Improve (A-S-I) (German: vermeiden, verlagern, verbessern) is an approach to environmental sustainability that seeks to increase efficiency by modifying consumer behavior.
Though it originated in transportation studies, it has since been used to apply to other ways that consumers use natural resources.
[4] In the context of transportation efficiency, "Avoid" could mean consolidating or eliminating vehicle trips; "Shift" could include using a bicycle instead of an automobile; and "Improve" could include trading in a gas-powered personal vehicle for a hybrid or electric one.
[3] Though developed for use in transportation, A-S-I has been applied to other consumer sectors, including food, homes, and energy.
Technological and entrepreneurial developments can create more A-S-I opportunities, such as smart thermostats that raise and lower interior temperatures based on human occupancy and activity patterns, or meal kits that can reduce food waste by sending pre-apportioned ingredients.