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Pitch

Creating responsible energy consumption habits in the enterprises by employees.


Description

Summary

 

First let me tell you about a very common situation. You are working on your computer or laptop when you suddenly have to get up to eat or attend a meeting. In some cases, you leave your job and you don't even bother turning your computer off. Do you feel identified with any of these situations? Now try to visualize this, this happen everyday, all over the world. Imagine the energy consumption that you're not using wisely.

Even though this may seem insignificant, the waste of large amounts of energy has a great impact in our environment and economy.

The first cause of global warming is the production and consumption of electric energy, because the process to produce energy generates many gases that cause pollution, such as CO2.

Our nowadays lifestyle, have led us to consume more energy than we actually need. We do not give enough importance to consume energy responsibly.

Standing before this issue, a new program is proposed to create good energy consumption habits inside the work place. Not only benefiting the organization but also the planet.

Through this program we offer a series of activities that provide a positive experience to the users, being non intrusive and linking with the program for the environmental protection.

 

All this benefits are given without lowering the productivity of the Organization and its employees/collaborators. This program has already been successfully implemented in a Mexican organization, where we managed to cut up to 20% of energy consumption, creating habits of responsible consumption and having considerable economic and ecological benefits. This Program is still carried out today and users are starting to replicate these practices outside of the organization, in other places like their houses, schools, etc. 


Category of the action

Changing public perceptions on climate change


What actions do you propose?

The program creates responsible energy consumption habits with non-intrusive, positive, motivational and uncommon activities, inside a workplace atmosphere that does not affect the user’s productivity. Therefore, these activities become replicable habits and improve the workplace environment in other areas. Besides, it pretends that the users promote the practices implemented by the program.

The program also expects to generate a positive impact in the users’ mind, encouraging them to acquire an environmental awareness and to execute some small practices like unplugging their computers, putting them on power saving mode, taking advantage of the sunlight and promoting the users’ integration through sustainable activities.

Along the implementation, the users are informed about the actions that they can adopt for taking care of the environment and the benefits that this involve. 

The implementation process consists in the application of a 360-model-based evaluation that analyzes the energy consumption habits of the organization, as well as the workplace atmosphere, their consumption behavior and the organizational commitment with environmental issues. Based on this evaluation, it is decided if the organization needs the program of not, and if it is the case, the objectives of the intervention are defined.

Therefore, the program makes an analysis that determines the activities that may take place in the organization and the implementation length.

Then, expectation is generated in the users and they are informed that they are participating in the program. Also they are informed about the goals of the program and how they are going to achieve them, using always a positive and friendly language. 

Beyond this point, the implementation begins with activities focused on developing a habit through the actions that they can adopt in order to take care of the planet and the benefits that this imply.

In this phase, the program starts to produce the expected results, finishing when the habits have been already adopted. Besides, it is developed a belonging sense where users are highly identified with the program and the habits that they have adopted. Then, there comes a supervision period where the organization receives feedback about the program implementation and, if its required, a renewal proposition.

 


Who will take these actions?

Implementation team

They are the ones that evaluate the organization, make the analysis and create the activities for the users. They are in charge of the implementation process. It consists mainly of a Implementation Leader, a Graphic Designer, a Psychologist and an Engineer.

Users (employees)

They execute the activities of the program, adopting the responsible energy consumption habits at the organization. Then, they will take these habits to every place where they go. In addition, the more proactive users will promote the practices that they adopt thanks to the program.

Authority figure in the implementation area

The organizational change must start from the top of the organization, that’s why it’s required the total support from the authority figure of the area.

Change agent at the organization

This is the responsible figure inside the organization that supervises and motivates other users to execute the program activities.

 


Where will these actions be taken?

These actions would be taken at the organizations that may be eligible for the program.

 In a first phase the program is designed to be implemented in the Mexican organizations, according to the personality and consumption habits of their population. Suddenly it will be adapted to Latin America and United States population requirements

According to the economical, political and cultural situation that we actually live in Mexico, the program has been developed in response to the mexican market requirements, in order to offer an efficient solution to the energy waste problem.

In this sense, it is important to highlight that in Mexico the electric energy is produced totally by CFE. Also, the cost of this service is considerably high in relation with the average income of a Mexican.

If the program is implemented in other countries it will be adapted to the specific environmental needs of each country.


How much will emissions be reduced or sequestered vs. business as usual levels?

The emissions will be reduced depending on the organization energy consumption habits. According to this idea, if the organization has negative habits, they would be able to save more energy by implementing the program. Besides, this reduction would be reflected on the implementation that every user could make in other spaces, like their own home or school.


What are other key benefits?

Cost reduction

Besides helping the planet, it significantly reduces costs, for both, the organization and the user. In addition, the electric devices lifetime becomes longer, reducing costs considerably.

While the program is creating a favorable impact for the population, it promotes a responsible consumption culture that goes beyond the enterprises, arriving to other places where people practice them. 

Improvement in risk management

As a consequence of the environmental situation that we actually live, business and industrial sectors, need to adopt some sustainable policies.

Our program prepares the organization for these changes. By reducing their energy consumption, the organization will be less dependent of the electric energy.

Corporative image

Every day, more and more companies are implementing multiple actions to reduce the environmental impact of their activities. By doing so, they combat the global warming and acquire a positive corporate image.


What are the proposal’s costs?

For its implementation, the program requires minimum operation expenses.

It also requires a work team that will execute all the implementation. The team consists on the next figures: an Implementation Leader, a Psychologist, a Graphic Designer and an Engineer. 


Time line

5-15 years

In short term, we are looking forward to implement the program in many Mexican organizations in order to gain good reputation. It also will be implemented in Latin American and US organizations.

15-50 years

The implementation of the program should be obligatory for most of the organizations.

50-100 years

New generations will already have responsible consumption habits, so we will focus to solve other issues that affect the planet.


Related proposals

1. Code Blue - Driving conscious consumption through behavior amplification 

2. Save energy in Comfort - live on the economy edge of your thermal comfort zone

3. Give clean engrgy it's fair market value.


References

1. "Society's great challenges. Insights from psychological Science. Global Climate Change", American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. Format: PDF, URL:http://www.apa.org/research/action/gc-climate-change.pdf 

2. "Talking Climate. Values & Frames", Format: Web, URL:http://talkingclimate.org/guides/values-frames 

3. Michael Jay Polonsky, "An Introduction to Green Marketing", Electronic Green Journal, (1994), Format: PDF, URL: http://www.greenprof.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/An-Introduction-to-Green-Marketing.pdf

4. Hassenzahl Marc, " User experience (UX): towards an experiential perspective on product quality" University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany and Åbo Akademi University, Finland.

5. "CFE y la electricidad en México", Format: Web, URL: http://www.cfe.gob.mx/ConoceCFE/1_AcercadeCFE/CFE_y_la_electricidad_en_Mexico/Paginas/CFEylaelectricidadMexico.aspx