Jamie Agombar, Ethical & Environmental Manager, NUS Services

1. Students in halls – saving energy and changing behaviour Jamie Agombar, Ethical & Environmental Manager, NUS Services Dr Neil Jennings, Coordinator, Student Switch Off

2. Halls - in terms of carbon • 2.3 million students (UK HE) • 22% in halls (506,000 bed spaces) • 348,000 HEI / 158,000 private • Halls on English HEIs £73.5m, 401,315 tCO2 • (£250m total, 29.5%) • 1.8 million students (England HE) • Per bed space £185; 1.01 tCO2 • Total UK spend for halls £94m; 513,000 tCO2

3. Halls - in terms of behaviour • Of 506,000 bed spaces, 44.5% (225,170) are first year • students • Often living away from home for the first time • Virtually all halls charge a fixed rent inclusive of utilities • A lack of incentives; clear disincentive. • Habit discontinuity hypothesis (Verplanken et al., 2008) • Superb opportunity to green UK population!

4. ? ? ? Five mechanisms of encouraging pro-environmental behaviour

5. 1) General awareness campaigns • Stickers by light switches • Freshers packs • Student-targeted media work • In general, informational approaches alone can result in • up to 9% cuts in energy use (Maibach et al., 2008)

6. 2) Peer-to-peer encouragement • Environmental student champions • Student ambassador scheme at the University of Bradford • Student environment rep’s at Durham University • Student green rep scheme at Leeds University • University of Manchester / Global Action Plan • In general, social and persuasive approaches have been • shown to be reasonably effective in producing behaviour • change in relation to environmental issues (Gardner & • Stern, 2002)

7. 3) Low-carbon buildings and energy-efficient halls of residence • Motivational effect of a low-carbon University / energy • efficient halls of residence • Loughborough University halls survey 2004 • Ecohalls managed by UPP at Lancaster University

8. 4) Comparative and competitive approaches • Comparative feedback is an effective tool to motivate • employees to become more energy efficient (e.g., Siero • et al., 1989) • Competitive element • Halls competitions embrace both • Students do a lot for little • About 10 examples: • - Loughborough University (party - 5%) • - University of Bath (beer and curry - 10%) • - University of St Andrews (cash - up to 20%) • Student Switch Off (prizes - 9%)

9. 5) Financial incentives • Financial prizes through inter-hall competitions • (University of the West of England) • Returnable energy deposits if students within blocks use • less than a pre-determined amount of energy (Sheffield • Hallam University; Unipol) • Separately-metering individual student rooms and • charging students for the energy they use (University of • Sunderland - 35%)

10. Defra action based research project • £106k project starting this summer • Reporting December 2010 • A series of controlled interventions • Straddles two academic years • Understand barriers and motivators • Wider policy context • Very useful for HEI sector, and internationally

11. Interventions: • General awareness campaigns - Durham University • Peer-to-peer encouragement - Leeds University • Low-carbon University / energy efficient halls - Lancaster University • Comparative and competitive - University of Bradford • Financial incentives - University of the West of England

13. The Challenge

14. Overview • Competition to see which Hall of Residence can reduce their energy usage by the greatest amount. • Incentives for energy-efficient behaviour at individual and communal level. • Building on existing social relationships, peer-to-peer communications, rivalries and communities.

15. Success to date • Average of 8.9% reduction in electricity usage across 11 Universities in 2008/09. • Over 680 tonnes of CO2 kept out of the atmosphere. • Over £115,000 in energy savings. • Over 4,950 students signed up as Eco-Power Rangers (15.3% of those in halls)…..

16. The Eco-Power Rangers

18. Peer-to-peer communication “I just wanted to e-mail to let you know that Tom Smith has really really inspired me to switch off everything! ... I read his little e-mail about switching off and from that moment on I really honestly and truly think about turning stuff off! I turn of my charger, my lights and my computer when I leave my room. He is also really good at gently reminding everyone when they forget!” Ruth Fehilly, University of Bristol

20. Measurement

22. Expansion for 2009/10 • At least 14 new Universities in England • It could be you! • University contribution in 2008/09 of £1.00 per student living in halls • 2008/09 average saving of £4.00 per student to date!

24. ? ? ? Questions / discussion