Lights Out!Training Building Occupants to

Change Energy-Consuming Behaviors

Tim O’Kane, Director of MarketingEnergy Solutions Professionals

Jeffrey Severin, DirectorKU Center for Sustainability

• Energy Competition between 3 campus buildings

• Measurements for electricity and gas over a12-week period

• Focus on adopting energy conservation behaviors

• Partnership between Energy Solutions Professionals and Center for Sustainability

Lights Out! Project Overview

• Buy-in from Deans• Focus groups • Green Teams• Energy Baselines• Dedicated web page (

www.energy.ku.edu/lightsout)

Pre-Competition

• Training and consultation• CFL Exchange• Weekly email updates• Energy pledge• Prize drawings• Building audits

During Competition

17.2%

15.6%

11.1%

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

16.0%

18.0%

20.0%

8-Feb 15-Feb 22-Feb 29-Feb 7-Mar 14-Mar 21-Mar 28-Mar 4-Apr 11-Apr 18-Apr 25-Apr

Bailey

Green

Summerfield

Individual Savings

5.6%6.5%

8.7%10.1%

11.1%12.0%

13.8%14.4% 14.0% 14.0% 14.2% 14.3%

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

16.0%

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12

Cumulative Savings (Bailey, Green, Summerfield)

Cumulative Savings (Bailey, Green, Summerfield)

Cumulative Savings

1

Unaware

2

Ambivalent

Little to No Effect

3

Committed

Very Minor Gains

4

Active

Major Gains

5

Ingrained

Savings Maintained

Five Stage of Behavioral Change

Expectations vs. Results

8-Feb 15-Feb 22-Feb 29-Feb 7-Mar 14-Mar 21-Mar 28-Mar 4-Apr 11-Apr 18-Apr 25-Apr0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

16.0%

18.0%

20.0%

Summerfield

Green

Bailey

Eaton

Lessons Learned

• There is no level playing field• Identify (and fix if possible) mechanical

challenges before competition begins• Can be difficult for participants to see

direct effects of their impacts• Difficult to match the reward to effort

Lessons Learned

• Promote long-term behavior change• Green Teams provide strong, ongoing

support within the building• Keep measurements simple• Put numbers into relatable terms• Make it personal• and…

Stephen "The Taxman" Mazza Neeli "The Influencer" BendapudiDanny "Numero Uno" Anderson

Make it fun!

Lights Out! – Round 2

• 14 Buildings• Primarily used by Liberal Arts &

Sciences

• Only electric savings• 6 week competition• Travelling Trophy to the

Winner

Travelling Trophy

Results to Date – Round 2N

unem

aker

Smith

Hall

Cent

er

Lind

ley

Lipp

inco

tt

Baile

y

Snow

Art &

Des

ign

Wes

coe

Fras

er

Dole

Blak

e

Haw

orth

Mal

ott

-5.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%Savings by Building

Results to Date – Round 2Average Savings

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 50.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

5.0%

6.0%

7.0%

8.0%

9.0%

10.0%

3.2%

7.6%6.8%

8.4% 8.7%

Lessons Learned• Take multiple weekly measurements

prior to the competition and compare to historical use

• Can be difficult to generate interest prior to competition

• Each building is unique and can present challenges that affect the competitiono New meterso Constructiono Change in use

What’s Next?

• Expansion to a campus-wide conservation program next year.

• Building infrastructure to support the program through our ambassador and green teams programs

• Incorporating lessons learned through a single building energy & sustainability program

• Extensive planning starting this summer

Questions?Tim O’KaneDirector of MarketingEnergy Solutions Professionalstim@energyesp.com

Jeff Severin, DirectorKU Center for Sustainabilityjseverin@ku.edu

www.energy.ku.edu/lightsout/