Short-term intervention, long-term change:Two case studies from the University of Toronto

Tyler Hunt, MAProject Coordinator, Sustainability Office

University of Toronto

Thanks and acknowledgements to: Elah Feder, non-presenting author

Beth Savan, Director, Sustainability OfficeZannah Matson, Graduate, University of Toronto

Photo purchased from iStock

• over 250 buildings on three campuses

• the U of T community:• 65,000 students• 10,000 staff• 6,000 faculty

The University of Toronto: A city within a city

• Director, Beth Savan• 2 Sustainability Coordinators• 2.5 Project Coordinators• 25+ students/year (coursework, volunteer, part-time work)

The Sustainability Office

As a result…

• Funding, staffing and student hours limit– Campaign duration– Campaign scope

• therefore, selecting the best strategies is critical to create enduring change

Case study 1: Fume Hoods

Case study 1: Fume Hoods

Fume hoods use incredible amounts of energy

> + +•Fume hoods exhaust large volumes of air

•Exhausted air must be replaced with fresh supply air•Supply air must be heated/cooled

Less exhaust less supply air

less energy to condition supply air

Case Study 1: VAV Fume Hoods

Goal: Minimize air flow through fume hoods, while maintaining or improving safety

Encourage fume hood users to position sashes1) as low as possible when not

in use2) at safe working height when

in use

Case Study 1: Fume Hoods

1) Awareness raising• presentation• website • visual prompts

2) Competition• ‘Sash Patrol’• stamps• prizes

Case Study: Fume Hoods Results

Case Study: Fume Hoods Results

Case Study: Lessons Learned

• program endurance

• use of commitments

• ‘ownership’ of the campaign (discussion vs. lecture)

• competition Staats, H., Harland, P. and Wilke, H. (2004), “Effecting durable change a team approach to improve environmental behavior in the household”, Environment and Behavior, Vol. 36 No. 3: 341-67.Dwyer, W.O., Leeming, F.C., Cobern, M.K., Porter, B.E. and Jackson, J.M. (1993), “Critical review of behavioural interventions to preserve environment: research since 1980”, Environmental Behavior, Vol. 25 No. 3: 275-321.Bachman and Katzev, 1982; Pardini and Katzev, 1983-1984; Katzev and Pardini, 1987-88; Katzev and Johnson, 1984; Katzev and Johnson, 1983

Gneezy, U. and Rustichini, A. (2000), “Pay enough or don't pay at all” The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol. 115 No. 3: 791-810.Lepper, M.R., Greene, D. and Nisbett, R.E. (1973), “Undermining children's intrinsic interest with extrinsic rewards: a test of the ‘overjustification’ hypothesis” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 28 No. 1: 129-37.

Gardner & Stern. Environmental Problems and Human Behaviours. Needham Heights: Allyn & Bacon, Inc., 1996

Case study 2: Printer Defaults in Libraries

• started with a challenge…

• first pilot

• positive results

Case study 2: Printer Defaults in Libraries

• expansion to Central Libraries

• information & awareness (site specific)

Case study 2: Results of UptakePr

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Sheets of Paper Saved In Libraries

Sheets actually used since initiatives started (up until June 2011) 1,823,789

Sheets that would be been used without increase in double-siding 2,745,694

SHEETS SAVED SINCE INITIATIVES STARTED 921,905(A PERCENTAGE REDUCTION OF) 34%

PREDICTED ANNUAL SAVINGS (based on calculated 756,421 percentage reduction)

Defaults did lead to incredible results, however…

–opportunities to default

– cost of technological change

– intrinsic motivations present?

Lessons Learned

• importance of evaluation

• consideration of tools (i.e. competition)

• technological and behavioural opportunities are unique for each project

Concluding thoughts

Tyler Hunt, MAProject Coordinator

t.hunt@utoronto.ca416-978-6792

University of Toronto Sustainability Officesustainability@utoronto.ca

www.sustainability.utoronto.ca

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