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

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

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!

Five mechanisms of encouraging pro- environmental behaviour ? ? ?

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)

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)

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

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%)

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%)

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

Interventions: 1.General awareness campaigns - Durham University 2.Peer-to-peer encouragement - Leeds University 3.Low-carbon University / energy efficient halls - Lancaster University 4.Comparative and competitive - University of Bradford 5.Financial incentives - University of the West of England

The Challenge

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. Overview

Success to date Average of 8.9% reduction in electricity usage across 11 Universities in 2008/09. Over 680 tonnes of CO 2 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)…..

The Eco-Power Rangers

Peer-to-peer communication “I just wanted to to let you know that Tom Smith has really really inspired me to switch off everything!... I read his little 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

Measurement

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!

Questions / discussion ? ? ?