SMART BUILDINGS, SMART PEOPLE? EMPLOYING ENERGY CONSERVATION BEHAVIORS IN COLLEGES

MARCH 29, 2016

Scott Finlinson, PhD Samantha Trbovich, MBA

AGENDA

The Case for a Holistic Approach

Sustainability = Good Economic Sense

A Unique Behavior Change Approach

Real World Results

Q&A: Comments About Generalizability

SUSTAINABILITY'S TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE (TBL)

According to John Elkington, there are three pillars of sustainability:

People Profit

TBL PEOPLE

Green schools, on average, use one third less energy than conventional schools.

Reduced electricity and gas use in buildings means lower emissions of pollutants (due to avoided burning of fossil fuels) that are damaging to human health, to the environment, and to property.

Enhanced security due to less maintenance and/or non-functioning equipment

Wise use of taxpayer dollars

Better working conditions for employees – improved safety

Greener image for surrounding community Sources: www.epa.gov/air/sect812/1990-2010/fullrept.pdf; and Jonathan Samet et al., www.healtheffects.org/Pubs/Samet2.pdf.

TBL PLANET

Rising sea levels

Extreme weather

Full landfills

Water shortages

Minimizing our impact on the environment is a good thing, and is the right thing to do for our children and their children’s future.

TBL: PROFITS

A national review of 30 green schools demonstrates that the construction of green schools cost 2% or less than conventional schools - or about $3 per square foot - but provide financial benefits that are 20 times as large.

Financial benefits of green schools ($/ft2)

Hedge against future energy price increases

Financial Benefits of Green Schools ($/ft2)

Energy $9

Emissions $1

Water & Wastewater $1

Increased Earnings $49

Asthma Reduction $3

Cold & Flu Reduction $5

Teacher Retention $4

Employment Impact $2

Total $74

Cost of Greening ($3)

Net Financial Benefits $71 Source: www.cap-e.com

ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING

Upgrades at Your Building - Improve building infrastructure

- Reduce energy and operating costs

- Upgrade energy consuming systems

Leverage Operating Budget - Preserve capital – project is self-funding

Project Performance/Savings Guaranteed - No risk business proposition

- ESCO bears performance risk

- Energy Savings Performance Contract

20-year contract - Savings pay for the upgrades

ENERGY & UTILITY Costs

MAINTENANCE Costs

SAVINGS Greater or equal to retrofit cost

BEFORE PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING

AFTER PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING

SAMPLE PROJECT WITH TYPICAL ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES (ECMs)

Energy Efficient Lighting Upgrades

- Upgrade 9,200 light fixtures

Water Efficiency Upgrades

- Retrofit/upgrade 5,000 fixtures

Central Plant Upgrades

- Install central plant burner controls & integrate ECMs

- Re-pipe/reconfigure condensate return

- Replace and monitor steam trap

Controls Systems Enhancements

- Implement monitoring and control capabilities of ECMs

- Correct HVAC deficiencies in camp

Window Replacements

- Replace approximately 14,500 ft2 of operating windows

- Replace approximately 2,300 ft2 of fixed windows

WHY DON’T BUILDINGS PERFORM AS EXPECTED?

New equipment not optimized

Interaction of old and new equipment

Building occupants

Interaction of old and new equipment and building occupants

BUILDING OCCUPANT ISSUES

Occupants uninformed about building’s energy consumption and costs

Poorly trained operations and maintenance staff

Staff turnover

Nefarious behavior

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BUILDING OCCUPANT SOLUTIONS

Awareness-Communication

Education

Buy-in

Engagement

Feedback

Holistic approach to creating smart buildings and smart people

Background

THE CASE FOR BEHAVIOR CHANGE

BEFORE PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING AFTER PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING

ENERGY & UTILITY Costs MAINTENANCE Costs

SAVINGS Greater or equal to retrofit costs PEOPLE SAVINGS Additional reduction of energy cost

“After completing a building retrofit project, employee energy consumption (e.g. plug load) becomes a greater percentage of the total utility spend and must be addressed” - Dr. Finlinson

ENERGY CONSERVATION THROUGH BEHAVIOR CHANGE® TREATMENT VS CONTROL

Building-Level Metered Water Consumption Comparison

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ECTBC Residence Hall Control Residence Hall

Pre-Program Post-Program

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ECTBC Residence Hall

Building-Level Metered Electricity

Consumption Comparison

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HISTORY OF SUCCESS

A Decade+ of Measured Change

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Mid-Western University

Mid-Western University

Kutztown University

Hawaii DAGS

UMass Dartmouth

Berks Heim Nursing Home

BUILDING ELECTRICITY

CONSUMPTION

BUILDING ELECTRICITY

CONSUMPTION

BUILDING WATER

CONSUMPTION

FOCAL BEHAVIOR CHANGE

FOCAL BEHAVIOR

CHANGE

ALL MEASURED BEHAVIOR CHANGES

FOCAL BEHAVIOR CHANGE

REDUCED

13.8%

METERED

REDUCED

24.0%

METERED

IMPROVED

47.3%

SELF-REPORT

IMPROVED

22.0%

SELF-REPORT

IMPROVED

9.9%

SELF-REPORT

REDUCED

8.1%

METERED

IMPROVED

12.7%

SELF-REPORT

FOCAL BEHAVIOR CHANGE

IMPROVED

29.0%

SELF-REPORT

West Point Military Academy

Allegheny County, PA

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University of Mary Washington

SELF-REPORT

FOCAL BEHAVIOR CHANGE

IMPROVED

18.5%

Berks County, PA

SELF-REPORT

IMPROVED

6.4%

FOCAL BEHAVIOR CHANGE

PROVEN PROCESS

Human Behavior Energy Audit SM

- Establish human energy baseline

- Identify impactful behaviors

Awareness-Communication

- Necessary, but insufficient first step

- Engaged students, staff, community

Sustainable Behavior Change

- Proven social-cognitive behavior change

- Fully custom program aimed towards assimilation

Existing Program Alignment

- Integrates with current efforts

- Broadens and supports successful initiatives

HUMAN BEHAVIOR ENERGY AUDITSM

One-on-one interviews, focus groups of “like” energy consumers, web-based survey for all

Measures energy conservation attitudes, awareness, knowledge, and behavior of organization’s employees

Identifies opportunities and barriers to conserving energy.

Tell us about these behaviors at work. Pre-Survey % Desired

When I leave my workspace, I turn off fan/AC 77.3%

When I leave an unoccupied workspace, I turn off lights 74.5%

When I'm finished using printer/speakers, I turn them off 54.5%

When I'm finished using my computer, I turn it off 53.8%

I turn off water faucet when I'm finished 99.1%

How often do you utilize the community or shared printer? 67.5%

I turn off a power strip with devices when not in use 15%

Results excerpt from Allegheny County’s HBEA

HUMAN BEHAVIOR ENERGY AUDITSM

A Human Behavior Energy AuditSM revealed which energy conservation practices students were already participating in and which required further program focus.

AWARENESS-COMMUNICATION

SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOR CHANGE

KNOWLEDGE COMMITMENT MODEL PERSUADE PROMPT CULTURE SHIFT

FEEDBACK

Focus on four energy saving behaviors

Annual Community Assistant training

Material and activity support

Program analysis and feedback

EXISTING PROGRAM ALIGNMENT

Student Collaboration and Interns We have worked with several students since the beginning of the contract to integrate their interest with the program. Harrison created comics that used the Kutztown mascot, Avalanche, to encourage the focal behaviors.

The student group is now integrated with the Housing office to increase sustainable practices. They have been the driving force behind water bottle refill stations in residence halls that reduce disposable water bottle usage on campus.

TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE: WIN, WIN, WIN

Greater awareness and acceptance of project

Occupants are better educated about ECMs

Smooth transitions

Marketing and press opportunities

Improved organizational culture

Certifications such as LEED®, AASHE, STAR CommunitiesSM

Additional problems and opportunities identified

Sustainability goals achieved

Initiatives strengthened

Frequent contact with a variety of customer decision makers

Improved communication throughout organization

Energy savings over and above other ECMs

Help sustain the savings stream over the performance period

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS