Abstract
The workplace offers opportunities for energy savings, but few studies have evaluated the effect of energy feedback in offices. This paper reports a case study of an energy visualisation intervention among social care staff. The research examined the role of feedback design (simple graphs vs. visualisation) and discusses the feasibility of implementing a near real-time visual feedback intervention into a work setting with staff keenly aware of their primary job roles. The findings show a staff sample with positive beliefs towards energy saving, but bounded by low feelings of self-efficacy, weak social norms, and perceived barriers in the office. Feedback may have supported feelings of collective efficacy and encouraged staff to talk with colleagues about ways to save energy. But engagement with feedback – and energy use in general – was limited. Energy use was embedded in other concerns and issues, such as a strong team culture and wider problems in the building. The case study highlights the complexities of energy-related behaviours in the workplace and the role visualising energy could play in this context. Engagement will be a key challenge in achieving successful feedback initiatives; we provide recommendations to tackle this challenge and identify areas for future research.
DOI
10.1016/j.erss.2016.02.004
Publication Date
2016-05-01
Publication Title
Energy Research & Social Science
Volume
15
Publisher
Elsevier BV
ISSN
2214-6296
Embargo Period
2024-11-22
First Page
58
Last Page
74
Recommended Citation
Boomsma, C., Goodhew, J., Pahl, S., & Jones, R. (2016) 'The feasibility of saving energy in challenging organisational contexts: Testing energy visualisation in a social services office in the United Kingdom', Energy Research & Social Science, 15, pp. 58-74. Elsevier BV: Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2016.02.004
Comments
publisher: Elsevier articletitle: The feasibility of saving energy in challenging organisational contexts: Testing energy visualisation in a social services office in the United Kingdom journaltitle: Energy Research & Social Science articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2016.02.004 content_type: article copyright: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.