Exploring the possibility of pro-environmental nudging by fine-tuning the stairs versus elevator nudge.

Abstract

This study focused on the question whether nudging could be used as a tool to elicit pro-environmental behaviour in a context where people have to choose between taking the stairs and taking the elevator. Stair use was stimulated by a combination of green footprints on the floor, leading to the stairwell, and posters with salient injunctive norms accompanied by stair-use-stimulating messages in the elevator and stairwell area. The main findings showed a significant and stable increase (6.3-8.7%) in stair use when comparing the pre-intervention period with the 4-week intervention period. An expected moderating group effect was not found. Although the increase in stair use was significant, it did not lead to a decrease in the number of elevators per person, which implies that no energy was saved by this intervention. The tested nudges are, however, a cheap and reasonably efficient tool for health-promotion.