Now that we know that the largest proportion of energy use in our greenest buildings comes from thing people plug in, we feel it’s time to address the fact that we humans and our daily habits are the next big hurdle for change. No matter how sophisticated and automated our building systems become, building occupants need to embrace their own role in creating and maintaining their optimal workplace.
To this end, we have been working hard to expand our capacity and offer these services:
~ Employee engagement and behavior change programs
~ Community-based Social Marketing
~ Measurement and tracking with the LEED Dynamic Plaque
~ Occupant satisfaction surveys
~ Green Building Tours
As Doug McKenzie-Mohr puts it, “The cornerstone of both sustainability and health is behavior change. If we are to move toward a sustainable and healthy future we must encourage the adoption of a multitude of actions (e.g., water and energy efficiency, waste reduction, pollution prevention, active lifestyles, hand washing, childhood immunization, etc.). To date, most programs to encourage such activities have relied upon disseminating information. Research demonstrates, however, that simply providing information has little or no effect on what people do. But if not ads, brochures or booklets, then what? Over the last decade a new approach — Community-based Social Marketing — has emerged as an effective alternative for delivering programs to foster sustainable and healthy behavior.”
Community-based Social Marketing (CBSM) leverages those methodologies that have been empirically proven to work in campaigns and programs that foster sustainable behavior. We highly recommend McKenzi-Mohr’s trainings and book, Fostering Sustainable Behavior, to anyone who wants to increase the effectiveness of their sustainability programs and communications.