Using Commitment and Communication to Increase Grass Cycling in Suburban Neighborhoods

Cases
Cobern, M. K., Porter, B.E., Leeming, F.C., & Dwyer, W.O. (1995). The effect of commitment on adoption and diffusion of grass cycling. Special Issue: Litter control and recycling. Environment and Behavior, 27, 2, 213-232.
First, a literature was conducted to identify the most effective behavior change tools to encourage grass cycling. Then, three homogeneous suburban neighborhoods were observed for…

The Effect of Mild and Strong Public Commitments on Energy Conservation in Jackson, Michigan

Cases
Shippee, G. E., & Gregory, W. L. (1982). Public commitment and energy conservation. American Journal of Community Psychology, 10, 1, 81-93.
Commitment is often an effective behavior change tool in promoting sustainable behavior. After conducting a literature review, two types of commitment were identified as influenti…

Reducing Electricity and Natural Gas Consumption Using Feedback and Incentives in Voorschoten, Netherlands, ,

Cases
Midden, C. J., Meter, J. E., Weenig, M. H., & Zieverink, H. J. (1983). Using feedback, reinforcement and information to reduce energy consumption in
After conducting a literature review, a pilot program was designed to reduce energy consumption in apartment complexes. Ninety-one households were divided into 4 conditions. All g…

Using a Normative Appeal to Control Litter at a Public Swimming Pool

Cases
Reich, J. W., & Robertson, J. L. (1979). Reactance and norm appeal in anti-littering messages. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 9, 1, 91-101.
A literature review revealed that a statement that puts an extreme demand on a person is likely to elicit the undesirable behavior. On the other hand, a statement that creates a n…

The Implementation of Set-Back Thermostats and Social Diffusion in Twin Rivers, New Jersey

Cases
Darley, J. M., & Beniger, J. R. (1981). Diffusion of energy-conserving innovations. Journal of Social Issues, 37, 2, 150-171.
After conducting a literature review, a time -controlled set-back thermostat was used as an innovation to reduce energy consumption. Residents in a three-block area in Twin Rivers…

Reducing Speeding Behavior by Using Public Posting Prompt

Cases
Van Houten, R., Nau, P. A., & Marini Z. (1980). An analysis of public posting in reducing speeding behavior on an urban highway. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 13, 3, 383-395.
Drivers travelling during the week between 10:30 and 10:50 a.m. and 2:30 and 2:50 p.m. on a four-lane undivided highway entering a residential area of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia were …

The Seafood Watch Program

Cases
The Seafood Watch program began as a list of sustainable seafood choices developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium between 1997-1999. This list was developed in order to answer visit…

Using Block Leaders and Prompts to Improve Participation in Curbside Recycling in Denver Colorado

Cases
Based on information obtained from a literature review, norms and prompts were incorporated into a pilot program designed to improve participation in curbside recycling. City bloc…

Encouraging Environmentally Friendly Shopping using Prompts, Commitment and Norms

Cases
Customers at a Zehr's supermarket in Kitchener, Ontario were encouraged to purchase environmentally friendly products. 168 products were identified that either had least-waste pac…

A Weekly Doorstep Recycling Collection; "I Had no Idea we Could!"

Cases
Adam D Read. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, v.26, (1999) p.217-249.
Currently the U.K. is faced with the problem of how to handle increasing amounts of solid waste and decreasing landfill area used to dispose of these wastes. In this case, the suc…

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