When we think of climate action and Net Zero, we often picture wind turbines, electric cars, or sweeping government policies. But what if one of the most powerful tools for reducing carbon emissions is something much simpler—changing our everyday behaviour?
That’s the idea behind a new initiative in the UK Midlands, where a student research team is working with the Midlands Net Zero Hub to uncover how small shifts in workplace habits can lead to big environmental wins.
The Bigger Picture: UK’s Net Zero Commitment
Since the Climate Change Act of 2008, the UK has been on a mission to slash carbon emissions. In 2019, the government raised the bar even higher, pledging to reach net zero by 2050. This ambitious goal aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including clean energy, sustainable cities, and climate action.
But reaching net zero isn’t just about national policy—it’s about what happens in every office, school, and public building.
The Challenge: Behaviour Change is Hard to Measure
While we know that turning off lights, reducing heating, or unplugging devices can save energy, there’s a problem: how do we measure the long-term impact of these behaviours?
Most research focuses on household habits, not workplaces. And in a professional setting, people often don’t have full control over their environment. That makes it tricky to track which behaviour changes actually stick—and which ones make a real difference.
Enter: Persistence Factors
To solve this, the research team is developing a method to calculate persistence factors—a way to rank behaviour changes based on:
- Effectiveness (how much energy they save),
- Duration (how long people keep doing them),
- Cost (how much they cost to implement).
By combining these factors, the team hopes to create a standard framework that building owners and managers can use to make smarter, greener decisions.
Real Buildings, Real Data
The project involves:
- Interviewing building owners and managers,
- Analysing energy audits,
- Identifying which behaviour change strategies are already in place—and how well they’re working.
The ultimate goal? Persuade more organisations to adopt the most effective, low-cost, long-lasting behaviour changes.
Small Changes, Big Impact
This project proves that climate action doesn’t always require massive infrastructure or high-tech solutions. Sometimes, it starts with a simple question:
“What if we just did things a little differently?”
Watch the students presenting their research.