ERIC Number: EJ914918
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0814-0626
EISSN: N/A
Intrinsic Changes: Energy Saving Behaviour among Resident University Students
Black, Rosemary; Davidson, Penny; Retra, Karen
Australian Journal of Environmental Education, v26 p85-99 2010
This paper presents the results of a study that explored the effectiveness of three intervention strategies in facilitating energy saving behaviour among resident undergraduate university students. In contrast to a dominant practice of motivating with rewards or competition this study sought to appeal to students' intrinsic motivations. An experimental design was used with two intervention groups and a control group. The interventions were the provision of real-time feedback provided by an in-house energy consumption display unit (ecoMeter) and a targeted social marketing approach. They were evaluated using energy consumption data and self-report data from the participants via an on-line survey and focus groups. Across the three research phases the rate of reduced electricity consumption for the interventions ranged from an average of 17% to 28% less than the control group. The findings provide evidence that facilitation of intrinsically motivated behaviours can result in reduced energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. (Contains 2 tables and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Feedback (Response), Control Groups, Research Design, Intervention, Energy Conservation, Focus Groups, Marketing, Rewards, Student Behavior, Undergraduate Students, Surveys, Internet, Student Motivation, Conservation (Environment), Environmental Education, Foreign Countries
Australian Association for Environmental Education, Inc. P.O. Box 560, Bellingen, NSW 2454, Australia. Tel: +61-2-6655-1865; Fax: +61-2-6655-1596; e-mail: admin@aaee.org.au; Web site: http://www.aaee.org.au/publications/ajee.htm
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A