Short answer

When designing workplace solutions, prioritize features that foster collaboration around energy saving and incorporate automated or easily managed environmental controls.

Field: Resource Management
Source: Energy Research & Social Science (2016)
Method: Systematic review of empirical evidence
Evidence: Strong effect

Interventions that create social opportunities and physical changes within the workplace are most effective at encouraging employees to save energy. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2016 study published in Energy Research & Social Science. Using Systematic review of empirical evidence, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing workplace solutions, prioritize features that foster collaboration around energy saving and incorporate automated or easily managed environmental controls.

Study

Resource ManagementHigh ImpactStrong effect

Workplace energy savings amplified by social and environmental interventions

Interventions that create social opportunities and physical changes within the workplace are most effective at encouraging employees to save energy.

Energy Research & Social Science · 2016

Key Findings

01Interventions creating social opportunities for employees to save energy are successful.
02Interventions creating physical opportunities for employees to save energy are successful.
03Enablement (direct support and employee control), Environmental Restructuring (automated/retrofitted technologies), and Modelling (social influence) were identified as effective intervention types.

Application

Design takeaway

When designing workplace solutions, prioritize features that foster collaboration around energy saving and incorporate automated or easily managed environmental controls.

How to apply

Implement feedback systems that highlight collective energy savings, install smart lighting and HVAC systems, and encourage peer-to-peer energy-saving initiatives.

Project actions

01Consider how your design can make energy saving a shared goal.
02Think about how technology can automate or simplify energy-saving actions for users.

Method & Evidence

AimTo identify the most successful types of behaviour change interventions for saving energy in office-type workplaces.

MethodSystematic review of empirical evidence

ProcedureThe researchers reviewed 22 studies that investigated energy-saving behaviour change interventions in office environments, using the Behaviour Change Wheel framework to assess intervention success.

ContextOffice workplaces

Variables

IV["Type of intervention (social, environmental restructuring, enablement, modelling)","Specific intervention components (e.g., feedback systems, automated controls, peer influence)"]

DV["Energy consumption (e.g., kWh)","Reported energy-saving behaviours"]

CV["Workplace type","Size of the workplace","Existing energy infrastructure","Duration of the intervention"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Systematic approach ensures comprehensive coverage of available evidence.
+Use of a recognized framework (Behaviour Change Wheel) provides a structured analysis.

Limitations

The effectiveness of interventions can vary greatly depending on the specific workplace culture and existing infrastructure.

Reliability & validity

The systematic review methodology enhances reliability by synthesizing multiple studies. Validity is supported by the use of a theoretical framework, but the heterogeneity of study designs and outcome measures could impact overall validity.

Think critically

How might the effectiveness of these interventions differ across various workplace types (e.g., manufacturing vs. creative studios)?

Design Principles

"Enable employees and restructure the environment to promote energy conservation."

Reducing energy consumption in commercial and office environments is critical for mitigating carbon emissions. Understanding which intervention strategies are most impactful allows organizations to implement targeted programs that yield significant environmental and economic benefits.

What This Means for Your Design

Making it easy and socially acceptable for people to save energy at work is the best way to get them to do it.

How to use in your project

1.Cite this research when discussing the behavioural or social aspects of energy consumption in your design project.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights that successful energy-saving interventions in workplaces often leverage both social influence and environmental restructuring. By creating opportunities for employees to collaborate on energy conservation and by implementing technological solutions that facilitate or automate energy savings, organizations can achieve significant reductions in energy consumption.

Source

Energy Research & Social Science

Intervening to change behaviour and save energy in the workplace: A systematic review of available evidence

journal · 2016

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about workplace energy savings amplified by social and environmental interventions?: When designing workplace solutions, prioritize features that foster collaboration around energy saving and incorporate automated or easily managed environmental controls. Evidence: Energy Research & Social Science (2016).
Why does "Workplace energy savings amplified by social and environmental interventions" matter for design?: Reducing energy consumption in commercial and office environments is critical for mitigating carbon emissions. Understanding which intervention strategies are most impactful allows organizations to implement targeted programs that yield significant environmental and economic benefits.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing workplace solutions, prioritize features that foster collaboration around energy saving and incorporate automated or easily managed environmental controls.
What were the main findings?: Interventions creating social opportunities for employees to save energy are successful.. Interventions creating physical opportunities for employees to save energy are successful.. Enablement (direct support and employee control), Environmental Restructuring (automated/retrofitted technologies), and Modelling (social influence) were identified as effective intervention types.
What research method was used?: Systematic review of empirical evidence.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2016 journal from Energy Research & Social Science.
What should I do differently in my next project?: Implement feedback systems that highlight collective energy savings, install smart lighting and HVAC systems, and encourage peer-to-peer energy-saving initiatives.
What are the limitations?: The review focused on office-type workplaces and did not explore interventions involving coercion, restriction, or extensive training.