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 [email protected] 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 $$
