Examination of a multi-element intervention on college students’ electricity consumption in on-campus housing

ORCID

Carolynn S. Kohn: 0000-0002-2156-4898

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Behavioral Interventions

Department

Psychology

ISSN

1072-0847

Volume

32

Issue

1

DOI

10.1002/bin.1463

First Page

79

Last Page

90

Publication Date

1-1-2017

Abstract

Use of electricity is a significant contributor to climate change. Results from several studies have demonstrated short‐term success but long‐term success is rarely assessed, and weather is rarely measured despite its effects on energy use. We evaluated the long‐term effects of a multi‐element intervention package including visual prompts, feedback, and incentives on energy usage in two sorority houses over two years (four semesters) using a multiple baseline with reversal design while also accounting for weather fluctuations over that time period. Although daily graphs suggested intervention houses reduced their relative energy use compared to baseline, functional control over behavior was not established because reductions in energy consumption were observed approximately halfway through baseline, due possibly to reactivity; control houses showed no such pattern. Moreover, bubble graphs accounting for weather suggested an increase in energy use for the intervention house during Semester 1. We discuss the limitations of this study, suggestions for future research, and use of innovative methods of graphing energy use to better understand usage patterns and account for weather fluctuations.

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