Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sustainability in the Workplace: Nine Intervention Techniques for Behavior Change

  • Conference paper
Persuasive Technology (PERSUASIVE 2013)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 7822))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Human activity creates some of the greatest environmental challenges on the planet. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research on sustainability increased dramatically in the past five years. Researchers argue that technology plays a critical role in changing people’s belief and behavior towards sustainability. Much of the sustainable HCI research currently focuses on domestic environments. However, 36% of electrical energy is used in the workplace and through office workers’ behavior modification savings between 12% to 20% are possible. We investigate nine intervention techniques based on a review of studies in the fields in Persuasive technology, HCI, Ubicomp, environmental psychology, energy efficiency, and green building. We introduce related studies and design examples, and discuss design issues using our suggestions in designing persuasive systems for the workplace.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Abrahamse, W., Steg, L., Vlek, C., Rothengatter, T.: A review of intervention studies aimed at household energy conservation. Environmental Psychology 25(3), 273–291 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Adomavicius, G., Tuzhilin, A.: Context-Aware Recommender Systems. In: Ricci, F., Rokach, L., Shapira, B., Kantor, P.B. (eds.) Recommender Systems Handbook, pp. 217–253. Springer US (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Al Mahmud, A., Dadlani, P., Mubin, O., Shahid, S., Midden, C., Moran, O.: iParrot: Towards Designing a Persuasive Agent for Energy Conservation. In: de Kort, Y.A.W., IJsselsteijn, W.A., Midden, C., Eggen, B., Fogg, B.J. (eds.) PERSUASIVE 2007. LNCS, vol. 4744, pp. 64–67. Springer, Heidelberg (2007)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  4. Mercier, C., Moorefield, L.: Commercial Office Plug Load Savings Assessment (2011), http://www.efficientproducts.org/reports/plugload/PlugLoadSavingsAssessment.pdf

  5. Schwartz, T., Betz, M., Ramirez, L., Stevens, G.: Sustainable energy practices at work: understanding the role of workers in energy conservation. In: NordiCHI 2010 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ruijten, P.A.M., de Kort, Y.A.W., Kosnar, P.: Bridging the Gap between the Home and the Lab: A Qualitative Study of Acceptance of an Avatar Feedback System. In: Bang, M., Ragnemalm, E.L. (eds.) PERSUASIVE 2012. LNCS, vol. 7284, pp. 251–255. Springer, Heidelberg (2012)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  7. Bandura, A.: Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review 84, 191–215 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gamberini, L., Spagnolli, A., Corradi, N., Jacucci, G., Tusa, G., Mikkola, T., Zamboni, L., Hoggan, E.: Tailoring Feedback to Users’ Actions in a Persuasive Game for Household Electricity Conservation. In: Bang, M., Ragnemalm, E.L. (eds.) PERSUASIVE 2012. LNCS, vol. 7284, pp. 100–111. Springer, Heidelberg (2012)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  9. Bang, M., Gustafsson, A., Katzeff, C.: Promoting New Patterns in Household Energy Consumption with Pervasive Learning Games. In: de Kort, Y.A.W., IJsselsteijn, W.A., Midden, C., Eggen, B., Fogg, B.J. (eds.) PERSUASIVE 2007. LNCS, vol. 4744, pp. 55–63. Springer, Heidelberg (2007)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Thieme, A., Comber, R., Miebach, J., Olivier, P.: We’ve bin watching you: designing for reflection and social persuasion to promote sustainable lifestyles. In: CHI 2012, pp. 2337–2346 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Berry, L.: The market penetration of energy-efficiency programs (No. ORNL/CON-299). Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA) (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  12. He, H.A., Greenberg, S., Huang, E.M.: One size does not fit all: applying the transtheoretical model to energy feedback technology design. In: CHI 2010, pp. 927–936. ACM (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Seaver, W.B., Patterson, A.H.: Decreasing fuel-oil consumption through feedback and social commendation. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 9(2), 147 (1976)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Kohlenberg, R., Phillips, T., Proctor, W.: A behavioral analysis of peaking in residential electrical-energy consumers. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 9(1), 13 (1976)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Pajares, F.: Overview of Social Cognitive Theory and of Self-efficacy (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Matthies, E., Kuhn, S., Klockner, C.A.: Travel Mode Choice of Women: The Result of Limitation, Ecological Norm, or Weak Habit? Environment and Behavior 34(2), 163–177 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. McCalley, L.T.: Consumer Response to Product-Integrated Energy Feedback: Behavior, Goal Level Shifts, and Energy Conservation. Environment and Behavior 43(4), 525–545 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. DiSalvo, C., Sengers, P., Brynjarsd’ottir, H.: Mapping the landscape of sustainable HCI. In: CHI 2010, pp. 1975–1984. ACM, New York (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  19. 1E PC Energy Report: PC Energy Report 2009, USA, United Kingdom, Germany (2009), http://www.1e.com/energycampaign/downloads/PC_EnergyReport2009-US.pdf

  20. Barendsen, E.: Saving Energy Where It Matters Most: A Hopeful Look (2009), http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/saving-energy-where-it-matters-most-hopeful-look-big-picture

  21. Fischer, C.: Feedback on household electricity consumption: a tool for saving energy? (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Fitzpatrick, G., Smith, G.: Technology-Enabled Feedback on Domestic Energy Consumption: Articulating a Set of Design Concerns. Pervasive Computing 8(1), 37–44 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Fogg, B.J.: Persuasive technology: using computers to change what we think and do. Ubiquity (December 2002), doi:10.1145/763955.763957

    Google Scholar 

  24. Foster, D., Lawson, S., Wardman, J., Blythe, M., Linehan, C.: “Watts in it for me?”: design implications for implementing effective energy interventions in organisations. In: CHI 2012, New York, NY, USA, pp. 2357–2366 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Froehlich, J., Dillahunt, T., Klasnja, P., Mankoff, J., Consolvo, S., Harrison, B., Landay, J.A.: UbiGreen: investigating a mobile tool for tracking and supporting green transportation habits. In: CHI 2009, pp. 1043–1052. ACM, New York (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Froehlich, J., Findlater, L., Landay, J.: The design of eco-feedback technology. In: CHI 2010, pp. 1999–2008. ACM, New York (2010), doi:10.1145/1753326.1753629

    Google Scholar 

  27. Ehrhardt-Martinez, K., Donnelly, K.A., Laitner, J.A.S.: Advanced Metering Initiatives and Residential Feedback Programs, Washington, D.C. (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Mercier, C.: Commercial office plug load savings and assessment: Final report (July 2011)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Lehrer, D., Vasudev, J.: Evaluating a social media application for sustainability in the workplace. In: CHI EA 2011, pp. 2161–2166. ACM, New York (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Siero, F.W., Bakker, A.B.: Changing organizational energy consumption behaviour through comparative feedback. Journal of Environmental Psychology 16, 235–246 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Geller, E.S.: The challenge of increasing proenvironmental behavior. In: Betchel, R.B., Churchman, A. (eds.) Handbook of Environmental Psychology, New York, pp. 525–540 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  32. GreenBiz.com: Green Teams – Engaging Employees in Sustainability (2009), http://www.greenbiz.com/sites/default/files/GreenBizR

  33. Yun, R., Gross, M.D.: RayMatic: ambient meter display with facial expression and gesture. In: CHI EA 2011, pp. 341–346. ACM, New York (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Wood, G.: Energy-use information transfer for intelligent homes: Enabling energy conservation with central and local displays. Energy and Buildings 39(4), 495–503 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Winett, R.A., Neale, M.S., Grier, H.C.: Effects of self-monitoring and feedback on residential electricity consumption. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 12(2), 173–184 (1979)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Harrigan, M.: Can we transform the market without transforming the customer? Home Energy 11(1) (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Wilhite, H. (n.d.): Advances in the use of consumption feedback information in energy billing: the experiences of a Norwegian energy utility — ECEEE. Proceeding

    Google Scholar 

  38. van Houwelingen, J.H., van Raaij, W.F.: The effect of goal-setting and daily electronic feedback on in-home energy use. Journal of Consumer Research 16 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Watkins, L.M.: Screening Job Applicants: The Impact of Physical Attractiveness and Application Quality. International Journal of Selection and Assessment 8(2), 76–84 (2000)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  40. Hayes, S.C., Cone, J.D.: Reducing residential electrical energy use: payments, information, and feedback. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 10(3), 425–435 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Fogg, B.J.: A behavior model for persuasive design. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Persuasive Technology, p. 40. ACM (April 2009)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Holmes, T.G.: Eco-visualization: combining art and technology to reduce energy consumption. In: C&C 2007, pp. 153–162. ACM, New York (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  43. de Vries, P., Aarts, H., Midden, C.J.: Changing Simple Energy-Related Consumer Behaviors How the Enactment of Intentions Is Thwarted by Acting and Non-Acting Habits. Environment and Behavior 43(5), 612–633 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Sustainability in the workplace report (2011), http://www.sustainabilityatwork.com.au/downloads/research-report.pdf

  45. Stern, P.C., Oskamp, S.: Managing scarce environmental resources. In: Stokols, D., Altman, I. (eds.) Handbook of Environmental Psychology, New York, pp. 1043–1088 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Skinner, B.F.: Science And Human Behavior. Simon and Schuster (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Shiraishi, M., Washio, Y., Takayama, C., Lehdonvirta, V., Kimura, H., Nakajima, T.: Using individual, social and economic persuasion techniques to reduce CO2 emissions in a family setting. In: Persuasive, pp. 13:1–13:8. ACM, New York (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Prochaska, J.O., Velicer, W.F.: The transtheoretical model of health behavior change. American Journal of Health Promotion 12(1), 38–48 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Kimura, H., Nakajima, T.: Designing Persuasive Applications to Motivate Sustainable Behavior in Collectivist Cultures. The Other Side of Technology 9(1), 7–28 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  50. Kim, T., Hong, H., Magerko, B.: Designing for Persuasion: Toward Ambient Eco-Visualization for Awareness. In: Ploug, T., Hasle, P., Oinas-Kukkonen, H. (eds.) PERSUASIVE 2010. LNCS, vol. 6137, pp. 106–116. Springer, Heidelberg (2010)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  51. Oinas-Kukkonen, H., Harjumaa, M.: A Systematic Framework for Designing and Evaluating Persuasive Systems. In: Oinas-Kukkonen, H., Hasle, P., Harjumaa, M., Segerståhl, K., Øhrstrøm, P. (eds.) PERSUASIVE 2008. LNCS, vol. 5033, pp. 164–176. Springer, Heidelberg (2008)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  52. Steg, L., Vlek, C.: Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: An integrative review and research agenda. Journal of Environmental Psychology 29(3), 309–317 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. NEEFUSA (2009), http://www.neefusa.org/BusinessEnv/EngagedOrganiZation_03182009.pdf

  54. Lucid, Building Dashboard site, http://www.buildingdashboard.com/clients/emory/turman/

  55. Matthies, E.: How can psychologists improve their outreach towards practitioners? A Suggestion for a Model of Environmentally Sound Everyday Practice 9(1), 62–81 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  56. Mankoff, J., Matthews, D., Fussell, S.R., Johnson, M.: Leveraging Social Networks To Motivate Individuals to Reduce their Ecological Footprints. In: HICSS 2007 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  57. Piotrow, P.T., Kincaid, D.L., Rimon II, J.G., Rinehart, W.: Health communication: lessons from family planning and reproductive health (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  58. Winett, R.A., Fort, T.R.: The effects of videotape modeling and daily feedback on residential electricity conservation. Applied Behavior Analysis 15, 381–402 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Heberlein, T.A.: Conversation information: The energy crisis and electricity consumption in an apartment complex. Energy Systems and Policy 1, 105–117 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  60. Kluger, A.N., DeNisi, A.: The effects of feedback interventions on performance: A historical review, a meta-analysis, and a preliminary feedback intervention theory. Psychological Bulletin 119(2), 254 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Bamberg, S.: Is a Residential Relocation a Good Opportunity to Change People’s Travel Behavior? Environment and Behavior 38(6), 820–840 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Yun, R., Lasternas, B., Aziz, A., Loftness, V., Scupelli, P., Rowe, A., Kothari, R., Marion, F., Zhao, J.: Toward the Design of a Dashboard to Promote Environmentally Sustainable Behavior among Office Workers. In: Berkovsky, S., Freyne, J. (eds.) PERSUASIVE 2013. LNCS, vol. 7822, pp. 246–252. Springer, Heidelberg (2013)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University, USA

    Ray Yun, Azizan Aziz & Vivian Loftness

  2. School of Design, Intelligent Workplace, Carnegie Mellon University, USA

    Peter Scupelli

Authors
  1. Ray Yun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter Scupelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Azizan Aziz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Vivian Loftness
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NICTA, Alexandria, NSW, Australia

    Shlomo Berkovsky

  2. CSIRO, Epping, NSW, Australia

    Jill Freyne

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Yun, R., Scupelli, P., Aziz, A., Loftness, V. (2013). Sustainability in the Workplace: Nine Intervention Techniques for Behavior Change . In: Berkovsky, S., Freyne, J. (eds) Persuasive Technology. PERSUASIVE 2013. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 7822. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37157-8_30

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37157-8_30

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-37156-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-37157-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation