This document discusses using behavioral techniques to promote water efficiency in the workplace. It explains that behavioral change, rather than policy or infrastructure changes, can influence water users' habits by arranging rewarding environments or disincentives. Behavioral techniques can break wasteful water habits and create saving habits, increase engagement with efficiency, and promote wider sustainability messages. Waterwise has worked with water companies on non-household efficiency through training, awareness raising, and innovation partnerships. Current barriers to using behavioral change for water efficiency are also addressed.

1. Behavioural Techniques for Water
Efficiency in the Workplace
Hazel Lewis
Specialist Project Developer
uk.hlewis@gmail.com

2. Anthropologist
Behavioural economics: decision making
Water Science & Governance MSc: dissertation on the barriers to
behaviour change in the UK water industry
Specialist Project Developer at Waterwise

4. What is behaviour change?
Influencing the behaviour of water users, businesses and their customers
Not policy, not taxation, not coercion, not infrastructure
“We have to identify behaviours we'd like to see, then arrange rewarding
environments - or disincentives for undesirable behaviours...If it's not practical
to make permanent changes to the environment, or if the effects wear off as
we habituate to their presence in our environment, then we may not see long
term impact”
-Carl Hughes, Wales Centre for Behavioural Change

5. How can it be used for water efficiency?
Breaking water wasting habits/creating water saving habits
Increasing engagement with water efficiency, triggering value change
Promoting wider messages of sustainability and energy efficiency
For managers, sustainability co-ordinators, other employees and customers

8. Waterwise have worked with existing water companies since 2005 on water
efficiency for non-households and will also be helping the new retailers
Skills and capacity building – training programmes for staff from water
efficiency auditing to retrofit measures, CPD for sales and call centre staff
Visibility and awareness raising – we will promote Waterwise supporter
companies work on water efficiency through events, webinars and awards
Innovation and partnerships – we will provide a link between water efficiency
product innovators, academia and retailers

9. Your retailer….
Are they going to provide more detailed data on water use?
Are they going to provide it in an accessible form to companies?
Are they going to assist companies in finding and fixing leaks
Are they going to help with water efficient devices and processes?
Are they going to help with employee engagement that can lead to behaviour
change that can fundamentally affect water use patterns

10. Current Barriers to Use of Behaviour Change for Water Efficiency

11. Behavioural Techniques for Water
Efficiency in the Workplace
Hazel Lewis
Specialist Project Developer
uk.hlewis@gmail.com