It’s What We Do: Creating a Culture Where Sustainable Practices Are the New Normal

Architects, engineers and builders have become increasingly effective at designing and delivering high performance buildings. Now if only we had people who were ready to live and work appropriately in these great buildings! It’s not impossible! Leveraging insights from social science you can influence human behaviors and ultimately you can facilitate a culture where saving energy and reducing waste is “just what people like us do.” Join us for a lively discussion and lots of practical examples of how you can inspire changes that ultimately create a new normal.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Articulate at least three benefits of inspiring building occupants to adopt sustainable practices.
• Describe at least three strategies for engaging people and be familiar with examples of each strategy in action.
• Examine the efficacy of positive reinforcement as an engagement strategy.
• Identify at least one way to increase engagement in attendees’ own work.

SPEAKER
Kathy Kuntz, Executive Director, Cool Choices
Kathy Kuntz is the Executive Director of Cool Choices, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit that inspires individuals, communities and businesses to adopt sustainable practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Cool Choices collaborates with private businesses and public entities to engage employees around sustainability, promoting changes at work and at home via a fun and online platform. Since 2010 Cool Choices has inspired thousands of individuals in hundreds of organizations to adopt more than half a million sustainable practices. Kathy has led Cool Choices since 2010 and has more than two decades of experience with energy efficiency and renewable energy; she previously led Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy program.