For those readers who are in more frequent communication with me, you heard a couple weeks ago, that I have recently accepted a position at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy out in Washington DC. I will be working as a Research Analyst with the Behavior and Human Dimensions Program, continuing my work and research around advancing behavioral considerations in energy efficiency and conservation.
Race you to the energy efficiency line
A great article by the Rocky Mountain Institute, a Colorado-based independent, entrepreneurial, nonprofit think-and-do tank, summarizes some of the innovations at the South by Southwest Interactive event. I’ve mentioned “gamification” before, but his article really brings some concepts home and offers a great example of how gamification can be applied to transportation. Continue reading
In 2007, bringing together the call to save energy and research on social psychology and behavior change, OPOWER launched a utility customer engagement platform that revolutionizes the way the average consumer relates to their energy bill. OPOWER has made incredible advances in researching the power of Feedback and Social Norming through their platform, and Minnesota is actually one of their main testing grounds. I participated in a webinar that included two OPOWER staff and Centerpoint Energy’s Conservation Improvement Program Manager, Todd Berreman and heard some very hopeful news. Continue reading
The more I am learning about practicing leadership, how we identify it, how we define it, and how we cultivate that practice, the more I see that it’s less about the technical skills (you can teach someone how to budget) and more about the person themselves. It’s about emotional intelligence (see post) and relationships. This article “How Leaders Lose Their Luck” from the Harvard Business Review talks about seven traits that make up a “lucky attitude” that leaders tend to bring to their personal development. Do you have the luck of a leader? Continue reading
I just came across this website (thanks to NextStep e-Newsletter) that has three great examples of vivid communication and injunctive norming, two tools that can be used to help further sustainable action. These three short commercials effectively show everyday water-use activities that can waste energy while providing a memorable and strong message that says “it’s weird to waste water”. Check them out at: http://www.wastingwaterisweird.com/ Continue reading
