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The Impact of Incentives on Employees to Change Thermostat Settings—A Field Study

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  • Mariola E. Zalewska

    (Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw, ul. Szturmowa 1/3, 02-678 Warszawa, Poland)

Abstract

When looking for energy-saving solutions, one should bear in mind the savings that can be obtained through behavioral changes. The article shows that a simple incentive can have a statistically significant impact on employees’ pro-ecological behavior. First, the introduction refers to the general perspective of striving for a global implementation of the Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs). Additionally, the stakeholders’ point of view is presented, based on reports submitted to the Responsible Business Forum competition (Poland). The two motivating trends are referenced, which include increasing the contribution of powering office buildings to the overall energy demand and increasing the appreciation of behavioral changes as alternatives or complements to technological solutions in pursuit of the SDGs. The following sections of the article present an experiment carried out at one faculty of the University of Warsaw, which consisted of checking the effect of the incentive to lower the temperature in offices after working hours on the actual change in the behavior of the employees. After several weeks of observation of end-of-day thermostat settings in several dozen offices, a statistically significant effect was found. This proves that even simple incentives can lead to pro-ecological behavioral changes.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariola E. Zalewska, 2021. "The Impact of Incentives on Employees to Change Thermostat Settings—A Field Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:17:p:5315-:d:623046
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Agata Balińska, 2022. "Analysis of Consumer Pro-Environmental Behavior—The Context of Scientific Research," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-3, April.
    2. Izabella Lecka & Janusz Gudowski & Tomasz Wołowiec, 2022. "CSR in Poland and the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in the Energy Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-25, September.
    3. Rosa Francesca De Masi & Antonio Gigante & Valentino Festa & Silvia Ruggiero & Giuseppe Peter Vanoli, 2021. "Effect of HVAC’s Management on Indoor Thermo-Hygrometric Comfort and Energy Balance: In Situ Assessments on a Real nZEB," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-30, November.

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