Ten Efficiency Network
Sustainability in ActionTEN: The Efficiency Network Chatham University, Spring 2013Allison Kahn, Edye Pucciarelli, Hannah Beringer, Brittaney Austin, Cayce Woodson Table of ContentsExecutive Summary Background Analysis Best Practices Introduction Lighting Usage Elevator Use Water Usage Printing Recommendations Materials Appendix A 9Driving Social Change 9References 10Executive Summary Our Sustainability in Action team at Chatham University is charged with developing actionable methods to implement sustainable behavior change within TEN: The Efficiency Networks’ client offices. The Sustainability Project Team’s goal is to identify the area with the highest potential for improvement, and create supplemental material to assist TEN in addressing these issues with clients.
Our research process consisted of reviewing successful practices for promoting social change in organizations and office settings. We found that the most successful methods have included providing employees with visual cues and reminders, providing incentives, educating employees, and making sustainable options easily attainable. These methods are supported by the Network for Business Sustainability’s model for driving social change. With this data, we have developed materials that will supplement the current client online portal and dashboard. Our suggested materials include signage, email campaign templates, and dashboard suggestions. Background AnalysisOffice environments are very resource intensive. High volumes of people lead to heavy reliance on paper, energy, water, office supplies, transportation, and maintenance. The types of modifications needed to create a sustainable office environment are behavioral and technical. Behavioral modifications are smaller scale, and generally enacted by individuals. These modifications are successful when utilized by a majority of individuals consistently. Technical modifications oftentimes involve management decisions, such as installing new equipment, or implementing new policies that encourage or enforce behavioral changes. Oftentimes, technical modifications, such as installing eco-friendly equipment, prompt behavioral changes.