Reducing fume hood energy use in US undergraduate classes by leveraging interpersonal efficacy and extrinsic rewards
Purpose: Given the potential of individual behavior change to address environmental issues, organizations such as universities have explored ways to significantly reduce energy use in workplaces and on campuses. With approximately 500,000 to 1,500,000 fume hoods operating in the U.S., and their corr...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622722000302 |
| _version_ | 1811180661517582336 |
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| author | Ash Gillis Jennifer C. Cole Mark Cohen Michael P. Vandenbergh |
| author_facet | Ash Gillis Jennifer C. Cole Mark Cohen Michael P. Vandenbergh |
| author_sort | Ash Gillis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: Given the potential of individual behavior change to address environmental issues, organizations such as universities have explored ways to significantly reduce energy use in workplaces and on campuses. With approximately 500,000 to 1,500,000 fume hoods operating in the U.S., and their corresponding aggregate electricity use of 26 TWh/year, one opportunity is to change fume hood use behaviors. We explored whether students improved their closing of fume hoods with interpersonal efficacy message, an extrinsic reward, or a combination of the two, potentially leading to energy, carbon, and financial savings. Design: We randomly assigned chemistry classes to one of four experimental conditions: interpersonal efficacy, extrinsic reward, a combination of interpersonal efficacy and extrinsic reward, or control. Observational data and survey responses were collected before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed to assess the effect of conditions on fume hood use behavior accounting for pre-intervention responses. Findings: Results showed that all interventions were effective at increasing observed closing of fume hoods compared to a control. Additionally, all interventions were largely effective at increasing self-reported closing of fume hoods and future intentions. The interpersonal efficacy intervention resulted in a faster rate of behavior change compared to all others. The extrinsic reward intervention increased reminders to fellow students about closing their fume hoods. Over the study period the interventions reduced energy use by 35%, carbon emissions by 36%, and operating costs by 35%. There was no evidence of positive or negative spillover on participants environmental behaviors outside the classroom. Originality: This study employed two types of novel low-cost interventions that can be easily scaled to larger populations. Additionally, our assessment examined behavioral spillover and direct environmental and financial impacts of the interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:06:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-285e68ef590f4334840b1b08a8001095 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-6227 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:06:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-285e68ef590f4334840b1b08a80010952022-12-22T04:32:36ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Ecological and Social Psychology2666-62272022-01-013100063Reducing fume hood energy use in US undergraduate classes by leveraging interpersonal efficacy and extrinsic rewardsAsh Gillis0Jennifer C. Cole1Mark Cohen2Michael P. Vandenbergh3Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management, 401 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, United States; Vanderbilt University Law School, 131 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, United States; Corresponding author.Climate Change Research Network, Vanderbilt University, 131 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, United StatesVanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management, 401 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, United StatesVanderbilt University Law School, 131 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, United StatesPurpose: Given the potential of individual behavior change to address environmental issues, organizations such as universities have explored ways to significantly reduce energy use in workplaces and on campuses. With approximately 500,000 to 1,500,000 fume hoods operating in the U.S., and their corresponding aggregate electricity use of 26 TWh/year, one opportunity is to change fume hood use behaviors. We explored whether students improved their closing of fume hoods with interpersonal efficacy message, an extrinsic reward, or a combination of the two, potentially leading to energy, carbon, and financial savings. Design: We randomly assigned chemistry classes to one of four experimental conditions: interpersonal efficacy, extrinsic reward, a combination of interpersonal efficacy and extrinsic reward, or control. Observational data and survey responses were collected before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed to assess the effect of conditions on fume hood use behavior accounting for pre-intervention responses. Findings: Results showed that all interventions were effective at increasing observed closing of fume hoods compared to a control. Additionally, all interventions were largely effective at increasing self-reported closing of fume hoods and future intentions. The interpersonal efficacy intervention resulted in a faster rate of behavior change compared to all others. The extrinsic reward intervention increased reminders to fellow students about closing their fume hoods. Over the study period the interventions reduced energy use by 35%, carbon emissions by 36%, and operating costs by 35%. There was no evidence of positive or negative spillover on participants environmental behaviors outside the classroom. Originality: This study employed two types of novel low-cost interventions that can be easily scaled to larger populations. Additionally, our assessment examined behavioral spillover and direct environmental and financial impacts of the interventions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622722000302Energy useInterventionInterpersonal influenceEfficacyExtrinsic rewardCost effectiveness |
| spellingShingle | Ash Gillis Jennifer C. Cole Mark Cohen Michael P. Vandenbergh Reducing fume hood energy use in US undergraduate classes by leveraging interpersonal efficacy and extrinsic rewards Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology Energy use Intervention Interpersonal influence Efficacy Extrinsic reward Cost effectiveness |
| title | Reducing fume hood energy use in US undergraduate classes by leveraging interpersonal efficacy and extrinsic rewards |
| title_full | Reducing fume hood energy use in US undergraduate classes by leveraging interpersonal efficacy and extrinsic rewards |
| title_fullStr | Reducing fume hood energy use in US undergraduate classes by leveraging interpersonal efficacy and extrinsic rewards |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reducing fume hood energy use in US undergraduate classes by leveraging interpersonal efficacy and extrinsic rewards |
| title_short | Reducing fume hood energy use in US undergraduate classes by leveraging interpersonal efficacy and extrinsic rewards |
| title_sort | reducing fume hood energy use in us undergraduate classes by leveraging interpersonal efficacy and extrinsic rewards |
| topic | Energy use Intervention Interpersonal influence Efficacy Extrinsic reward Cost effectiveness |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622722000302 |
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