experiences attendance at the yearly Schanzenfest, a social event involving great consumption of take-away food and drink, and increased production of waste, disproportionately increased our combined harm to the ecostructure of greater Hamburg. The behavioural change researcher (Steve Lorimer) was there to foster behavioural change. We believe that this peer-to-peer communication was a very powerful factor in the reduction of overall consumption. We concluded that the success of the behaviour changes that reduced energy use relied strongly on team spirit and an inspiring moderator who is trusted by the group. The experimental setting of the Summer School likely contributed to the students’ consumption patterns. By measuring their own consumption, participants became aware of the ‘household’ and developed a new sense of capacity and ownership. During this study we observed that the urban infrastructure of Wilhelmsburg and Hamburg and the social aspects and peer-to-peer communication of communal living played equally important roles defining participant resource consumption. The processes we introduced during the Summer School – such as picking up breakfast at the local bakery, cooking together and washing up, became a part of the identity of the place and a part of the collective value created between the group and the UdN. There are no supporting quantitative data, but qualitative observation suggests that (with exception of the excursion to the Schanzenfest) once an individual adopted environmentally friendly behaviour, he/she kept that resolve consistently, at least within the premises. Certainly, within the particular setting of the UdN – with highly visible meters everywhere– students were constantly reminded of their consumption. It may even be that sustainable consumption has become embedded in the identity of the place for them.
Conclusion The consumption diaries were an attempt to identify some of the factors involved in activating behavioural change. Measuring, monitoring and thus tracking back and visualizing resource use is the first step in planning and improving the efficiency of resource use.
References OECD, Policy Case Studies Series: Policies to Promote Sustainable Consumption, 2002 S. Kreutzberger, V. Thurn (2011) Die Essensvernichter. Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Köln. S 147. Juster, T. & Stafford, F.P. (eds) (1985) Time, Goods and Well-being, Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan. Collins, A., Flynn, A., Munday, M. & Roberts, A. 2007. Assessing the environmental consequences of major sporting events : the 2003/04 FA Cup Final. Urban Studies, 44, 457.
Mariane Jang holds an MSc in Culture and Society from the LSE and a BA in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge. She worked over three years in sustainability consulting and research at Arup, where her projects included: project managing sustainable design guidance; reporting and assessment for the London 2012 Olympic Park; sustainability strategies for a range of built environment projects and urban policies. She is a qualified CEEQUAL assessor, an Associate member of the Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). Stephen Lorimer: see next article. Korinna Thielen: see final article.
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