Behavior Matters: Program Results from Stanford, MIT and Cornell

Feedback and Behavior Change:Influencing Fume Hood Practices…and

More Steven M. LanouDeputy Director - Sustainability ProgramEnvironmental Programs OfficeMassachusetts Institute of Technology617-452-2907 slanou@mit.edu ehs.mit.edu/site/sustainability

2010 Conference – Denver, CO

What is “Behavior Change” at MIT?

Empowering individuals to take charge and affect change in their own “place” by bucking the prevailing system

Can you spot the labs?

MIT Building 18: Dept of Chemistry

…at 5PM

…and at 2AM

Source:MIT, Amanti

• No. 2 energy consumer per sq. ft. on campus

Electric 51%

Chilled Water 16%Steam

33%

CO2 emissions

Electric60%

Chilled Water 13%

Steam27%

Cost

$2 million 8500 metric tons

Emissions equal to over 300 SUVs driving 60 mph

Where does the energy go?

Source: MIT, Wesolowski

Electric use breakdown (approximate)

Source: MIT, Amanti

!

Where does the energy go?

Heat or Cool

Intake fan

Outside air

Exhaust fan Vented air

Fume hoods in Building 18

The “Engineered Solution” for energy conservation

Sash Position Sensor

Phoenix Control Valve

Variable Air Volume &Monitoring and Control

Did we leave out the human aspect? Can we make better use of the VAV by

supplementing with behavior change? Collaboration: Sustainability Program,

MITEI, EHS, Chemistry, students, faculty and staff

Information: energy map, thesis e-mail from “The Boss” new fume hood training developed

Monitoring: average sash position by PI

Feedback: Monthly performance data

The “Behavioral Solution” for energy conservation:

Information, Monitoring & Feedback

Performance data collection and distribution

Feedback intervention: average sash position

Before intervention

Current

Average sash positionPost-implementation

Baseline sash position

*

* Winter holiday season

*

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%

Oct-06 May-07 Dec-07 Jun-08

Ave

rag

e sa

sh p

osi

tio

n

300

320

340

360

380

400

Air

flo

w /

ho

od

(C

FM

)

Impact

What have we learned?

Feedback can induce behavior change But must supplement other measures Behavior change can lead to cycle of

institutional change Challenge rules of thumb Retrofits (100-80 fpm) Integrated building HVAC audits &

decommissioning New construction design

Measurement and verification of results have growing importance Eco-Rep motivation MIT Efficiency Forward $$