Green design, identity or both? Factors affecting environmentally responsible behaviors in student residences

Abstract

Occupant behavior is one of the most important contributors to a building’s energy and water consumption. This study investigates the influence of: environmental attitude, identity, and presence of green building features on students’ environmentally responsible behavior. Study was conducted at university campus settings. 121 residents of green and conventional student residences have completed a survey, answering the questions about their behaviors, beliefs, and the perception of green features in their residence. Green building features have been divided into two categories: visual and conceptual. The results of statistical analyses have shown that the main determinant of students’ behavior is the level of their environmental identity. Students who live in green residences declare lower environmental identity and less pro-environmental behaviors than students in conventional residences. In green residences, environmentally responsible behaviors are more frequent when students are aware of the presence of visual green building features. At the same time, despite declaring less pro-environmental behaviors, students in green dormitories feel they have become more pro-environmental since they moved to green dormitories. Implications of these findings are discussed, in the context of previous studies on architectural and psychological factors affecting environmentally responsible behaviors and in the context of moral licensing.