Assessing an Energy Behavior Change Program within Chapman University\u27s Residence Halls

For the last two years the Environmental Science and Policy Program Capstone Course has focused on performing a campus Environmental Audit and evaluating the sustainability progress and opportunity for improvement on Campus. The original audit looked at 10 different subject areas, and subsequent audits have drilled deeper into those subject areas. The previous audit was focused on water and landscaping. Many of the resulting recommendations are now being implemented on campus. The current iteration of this course focuses on energy and building construction. This particular chapter in Chapman’s 2015 Energy and Building Audit looks deeper into Chapman’s role in the upcoming industry of Behavior Change in Energy Efficiency. Past attempts at curtailing energy use have used the traditional method known as physical-economic-model. This chapter will participate in new methods of using psychology, social marketing, and big data. Various recommendations can be made, including, assessing a baseline kWh/student for future ROI, analysis of student demographics to establish a target demographic, and recommendations on implementing a behavior program at Chapman. This chapter will also analyze last year’s Eco-Olympics energy savings as an opportunity for reinvestment. Finally, the chapter looks into the creation of a sustainable community within Chapman’s residence residence halls as a step toward installing renewable energy