Energy challenges: isolating results due to behavior change
Persistent URL
Author(s)
Boulton, Kelly
Pallant, Eric
Bradshaw-Wilson, Casey
Choate, Beth A.
Carbone, Ian A.
Date Issued
March 1, 2016
Abstract
Purpose – Approximately 700 colleges and universities have committed to climate neutrality, which will
require significant reductions in energy consumption. This paper aims to explore the effectiveness of an
Annual Energy Challenge in curtailing electricity use by changing consumption behaviors at one liberal arts
college.
Design/methodology/approach – From 2010 to 2014, Allegheny College (Meadville, PA, USA) ran
four-week energy challenges. Electricity consumption was measured and compared to a baseline year of 2008.
An alternate baseline, more granular data for 20 sub-metered buildings and historic utility bill consumption
trends were further analyzed to identify any persisting change and understand the impact of behavior change
separate from efficiency retrofits, changes in population and normal seasonal shifts.
Findings – Electricity consumption during the challenge period dropped an average of 9 per cent compared
to the 2008 baseline and 6 per cent compared to the baseline of the 4 weeks preceding each challenge.
Consumption trends changed in the years during challenge implementation compared to the years before
engaging the campus community. All analyses reinforce that the challenge reduces electricity consumption.
However, results must be analyzed in multiple ways to isolate for behavior change.
Practical implications – The analyses used to isolate energy challenge results due to behavior change
are replicable at other institutions and would allow campuses to compare results and share proven strategies.
Originality/value – While many campuses organize energy challenges, few have published details about
the results both during the challenge and continuing afterwards. Nor has a research explored the need to put
results into contexts such as natural seasonal trends to isolate the impacts of behavior change.
Journal
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
Department
Environmental Science / Studies
Citation
Boulton, K., Pallant, E., Bradshaw-Wilson, C., Choate, B., and Carbone, I. (2017). Energy
challenges: isolating results due to behavior change. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher
Education 18(1):116-128. doi: 10.1108/IJSHE-08-2015-0144
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Version of Article
Published article
Embargo
This version of the article is not available for viewing to the public. Contact the publisher for access.
DOI
10.1108/IJSHE-08-2015-0144
ISSN
1467-6370
Rights
Published and restricted by copyright. Please contact the author or publisher for access.
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