University of Groningen: How to save a million euros? From energy users to sustainability makers

Energizement  Who am I?  Malissa Oude Sogtoen  Owner of OnderSogt: Research and Management in Sustainable Spatial Planning  Energy Challenges/ Student Challenges/ University College Groningen  Masterstudent Environmental and Infrastructure Planning (Spatial Sciences)  Do the energy policies of Groningen, Almere and Tilburg provide room for people to act sustainable and increase sustainability?  What are we going to do?  Give an overview of the energy saving projects  Brainstorm sequel Faculty Challenge  Save 1 million euro’s  Why are we doing this?  I don’t like climate change  What is your motivation?

 From energy users to sustainability makers  Do you want to create awareness and reduce energy consumption?  What is your motivation?  Environment? Because you want to do good? Because you like it? Because you win something like school credits or prize money?  Can you create awareness and reduce energy consumption?  Information  Do you have resources?  Time/people/instruments/tasks?  Are you strenghtened in your sustainable behavior?  Are your efforts effective?  Are your efforts appreciated by your environment? Behavioral change

Overview  Increasing energy awareness en reducing energy consumption at school  Competition between primary and secundary schools  Energy Monitoring system  Energy Campaign  6 assignments  One team which greens the school  Team creates a fanbase which supports their energy campaign  Reporter  Jury  Prizes

Results  From 2 schools in 2011 to 100 schools in 2015  Started in Groningen and now running in 6 provinces  Through behavior 10% to 15% can be saved  It works! Energy is saved and awareness is increased  Important: If school board or teachers not commited; students are diffcultly energized

Overview  Pilot project november 2015 – april 2016  Increasing energy awareness en reducing energy consumption at student houses  Competition between student houses  Energy Montoring system  Energy Campaign  5 assignments  Reporter  Jury  Prizes

Results  Saved 5% on electricity and 7% on gas / saving energy is addictive (Installation of smart meters was hampered)  Monitorings systems work! More practical info on how to save energy was welcome  5 assignments were too much; keep it simple!  More competition between teams through participation of different student associations and more teams  More events – sharing cheers and practical information  Motivations; reducing energy for lowering expenses and environment, competition between teams, prizes  Competitive and fun!  Motivation decreased by energy label; housing cooperation should facilitate students and sustainability

Course Energy – University College Groningen  8 week course  25 students from physics and psychology  5 groups  First 5 weeks literature study  Last 3 weeks recommendations for UCG how to green  Tour through the building

Course Energy – University College Groningen /Results  Recommendations how to green through changing behavior  Tour through building really motivated students  Practical knowledge for people how to save energy  Middle through approach – Students and organization university have to work together in green commitee  Transparency about complex web of responsibilities with respect to energy providence  Recommendations how to green through physical adjustments  UCG is dependent on supplier chosen by RUG / no easy change to green supplier  Monument  Smart meters/insulation paint/led lighting

Learning Experiences from projects  Do we want to? Taking responsibility about energy is fullfilling!  The sustainability makers in projects are motivated differently  In general there is a desire to reduce energy  Can we? Provide space for sustainability!  Practical information on how to save energy  Different levels working together; middle through approach  Communication is key! Overcome organizational secularization of responsibilities  Assign responsibility about sustainable education to students?  How to strengthen?  Keep the competition simple and fun  Be enthusiastic and promote about efforts  Show effects

Faculty challenge - The job

The sustainability makers Human resources  students (83%)  fte personnel(16%)  491 fte professors(1%) Knowledge  Economics and Business  Behavioral and Social Sciences  Theology and Religious Studies  Arts  Medical Sciences  Philosophy  Mathematics and Natural Sciences  University College Groningen  Campus Fryslân

Brainstorm  Motivation  What are biggest expenses?  As sustainability makers; can we reduce expenses through behavioral change?