Bi Project Policy Area: Environment

This online experiment tested various ways in which sustainability measures for homeowners are presented on the website verbeterjehuis.nl, ‘improve your home’. The variant emphasising that the sustainability measures are 'recommended for your personal situation' proved to be most effective. This addition acts as an incentive to homeowners to install roof insulation or adopt other sustainability measures. Why this experiment was conducted: verbeterjehuis.nl website optimisation Homeowners…

Institution: Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy

A series of controlled randomised experiments was conducted to examine the savings effects for households of three types of energy consumption managers tools: an email + web application, an app installed on a smartphone or tablet and an in-home display. Energy savings could only be established for the in-home display: almost 7% on natural gas and over 2% on electricity consumption. Why this experiment was conducted: The Netherlands' climate targets Energy consumption by Dutch households…

Institution: PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency

Rijkswaterstaat (the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management) wants to induce behavioural change in several areas. The circular economy is one example. A study examined whether consumers will make more sustainable choices if they have been complimented on their past actions or behaviour that were environmentally friendly or sustainable. This proved to be the case. Why this experiment was conducted: additional incentive for sustainable behaviour Behavioural change is…

Institution: Rijkswaterstaat's Circular Economy & Waste department

Why this experiment was conducted: scepticism about second-hand clothes The clothing industry is a major polluter, and the second-hand market is an important alternative to new clothes. While more and more Dutch consumers are turning to pre-owned clothing, a large group remains sceptical. According to a target group study conducted in 2020, they wonder whether they will be able to find a suitable second-hand item, and whether it is hygienic. The best way to overcome this scepticism is to create…

Institution: Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management

The project’s goal is to bridge the gap between individuals’ green intentions and behaviors by simplifying self-regulating behavioral tools such as information processing, implementation intentions, and prioritizing. Through structured workshops, online courses and social media content Ecofriendly Choices creates a link between environmental ideas and actual everyday choices, helping individuals overcome information overload, action paralysis and procrastination in ecofriendly consumption…

Institution: Other

Using sustainable transportation alternatives can often be hindered by car dependence (Haustein, 2021). Within the context of Santa Monica, for example, approximately 75% of Santa Monica residents choose single occupancy vehicle (SOV) commutes to work, and over 50% of households own more than one vehicle (Data USA, n.d.). More generally, vehicle transportation accounts for 62% of greenhouse gas emissions in the city, making it the largest emissions contributor (Johnstone, 2021). However,…

Institution: Duke University

Team: The Center for Advanced Hindsight

Using a place-based approach and working with profiled local communities in Coventry, we prototype and test a new experimental methodology with elements of design thinking to better understand barriers to engagement with retrofit measures designed to reduce household carbon emissions and alleviate fuel poverty. We partner with Coventry City Council, a local school and artists to deliver a pilot scheme in the Radford area of Coventry and aim in future to expand the project to additional areas…

Institution: Other

Team: Lory Barile, Bret Willers (Head of Climate Change and Sustainability, Coventry), St. Augustine’s Primary Catholic School in Coventry, and artists at Real Art, Coventry.

Landfills are a major contributor to methane emissions in the United States. By diverting organic waste from landfills, composting may reduce the global warming effects caused by methane. However, only a small proportion of compostable food is currently composted. This is because of barriers to composting that are both structural (lack of public composting infrastructure) and psychological (insufficient knowledge about and interest in composting among prospective users). We set out to develop a…

Institution: Duke University

Team: The Center for Advanced Hindsight

Smart energy services and demand flexibility are increasingly important topics. Levels of awareness in an Irish context are uncertain, but engagement is low. We test different ways of framing information on engagement and intention to be flexible. We record flexibility preferences by activity and flexibility mechanisms.

Institution: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)

Team: SEAI Behavioural Economics Unit

In line with the Government of Canada's National Adaptation Strategy, this project seeks to further understanding of Canadians’ awareness and adoption of measures intended to mitigate wildfire risk toward the end of supporting and empowering more widespread action. The study is a survey with an embedded randomized controlled trial component. The survey component of the study aims to address questions such as: 1. What are the barriers to more widespread adoption of wildland fire risk reduction…

Institution: Impact and Innovation Hub (IIU)- Impact Canada

Team: Impact and Innovation Unit (IIU)