Nudging Toward Sustainability: A Pilot Study on Promoting Pro-Environmental Behavior and Reducing Carbon Emissions in a Net-Zero Carbon Building

Abstract

As the building industry grapples with the challenges of sustainability and climate change, the role of individual behavior in resource and energy conservation practices has received less attention than technical options. This pilot study aims to address this gap by investigating the effectiveness of "nudges," or targeted information interventions, in promoting pro-environmental behavior and reducing carbon emissions in a net-zero building in Ontario, Canada. Using a carbon footprint methodology and marginal emission approach, the study looks at the interplay between human and physical factors in driving sustainable behavior. By expressing carbon emissions as a function of time and applying socio-psychological frameworks to guide effective intervention strategies, this research study contributes to the growing body of literature on sustainable building practices and carbon reduction. The study also offers insights into the potential for nudges to be used as a tool for promoting sustainable behavior and reducing carbon emissions in buildings.