Energy behaviour
Photo: Enrico Mantegazza/Unsplash

Energy behaviour

Inciting individual behaviour change to support organisational measures

  • Energy and buildings
  • Energy consumption of buildings
  • Energy sufficiency
  • Behaviour change
  • Awareness-raising

Reducing energy consumption is a crucial lever for reducing an organisation’s climate impact. Efforts to lower emissions related to energy involve a combination of technical improvements and changes at organisational level as well as behavioural changes at an individual level.

Why is it important?

The energy sector is a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. According to the 6th report of the IPPC, the energy sector was responsible for 34% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. The report also highlighted great disparities between high income and lower income countries. (1) Fossil fuels still represented the vast majority of global energy consumption. (2) Globally, fossil fuel energy prices have risen significantly, making energy savings a priority for organisations of all types, regardless of location.

In the humanitarian sector, emissions from energy consumption contribute 5% of sector-wide emissions. (3) This is largely driven by the sector’s heavy reliance on diesel generators due to unstable energy grids, resulting in highly carbon-intensive energy supply. (4) Additionally, fossil fuel energy in humanitarian settings is costly, with an estimated 5% of humanitarian budgets spent on diesel, petrol, and associated costs such as generator maintenance. (5) Similarly, in the healthcare sector, purchased energy sources—including electricity, heating, steam, and cooling—are a significant contributor, accounting for 12% of the sector’s total emissions. (6)

Along with transitioning to low-carbon energy supply models, a moderate consumption of energy aimed at avoiding wastage is a key lever of action for organisations.

What’s the solution?

Reducing energy consumption as much as possible (energy sufficiency) is key to achieving ambitious climate targets. It can help organisations not only to reduce their carbon footprint, but also to make financial savings.

Energy sufficiency requires individual behaviour change which organisations must also facilitate by investing in energy saving solutions which are installed by default, such as motion sensors in offices or office-wide temperature standards.

Individual actions, such as turning off lights and computers when not in use, are easy to adopt and often incur little to no cost. In order to be effective and accepted broadly, these energy savings actions must be practiced consistently and supported by technological improvements to equipment and buildings. For example, organisations should invest in renewable energy or energy efficient equipment, or upgrades like switching to LED lighting. Staff are otherwise likely to question the effectiveness of their actions – and rightly so.

“Individual behavioural change is insufficient for climate change mitigation unless embedded in structural and cultural change.”

IPCC 2022, 6th Assessment report (7)

  • Point of attention

    The priority for organisations should be to implement organisation-wide measures, such as setting temperature standards accepted by all and installing motion sensors. However, raising awareness and encouraging behaviour change at an individual level is equally important, not only to foster acceptance of energy-saving measures across the organisation, but also to positively reinforce these efforts. Moreover, staff may adopt energy-saving practices in their personal lives, contributing to broader global emissions reductions.

Key facts

80%

In 2021, fossil fuel-based energy represented 80% of the world’s energy mix. (8)

10 to 15%

Approximately 10%-15% of all energy consumed is wasted by appliances which are on standby or not in use. (9)

50 to 80%

Switching from a desktop PC to a laptop can result in energy savings of 50 to 80%. (10)

50%

of energy consumption can be saved from setting the AC temperature from 22 °C to 26 °C. (11)

200,000 tonnes of CO2

Humanitarian agencies use approximately 11,000 generators globally, representing $100 million on fuel per year, emitting almost 200,000 tonnes of CO2. (12)

Key actions

  • Changing behaviour to reduce energy use: examples of individual actions

    • Turn off all lights and appliances (AC, printers, computers, Wi-Fi router) when not in use (at night, during weekends, etc.) – avoid standby modes which are very energy intensive. (13)
    • Lower thermostat settings in cold climates and increase settings in warm climates, when not done centrally.
    • Close windows and doors when AC/heaters are in use to keep the temperature constant.
    • Put laptops and printers in sleep mode when not in use.
    • Fully load washing machines and dishwashers.
    • Bake and cook efficiently – cover pots to reduce cooking time and use ovens efficiently (e.g., turn off early to make use of residual heat).
    • Close refrigerator doors properly.
    • Unplug devices like phone chargers and other appliances that draw power when not in use.

To consider

  • Potential co-benefits

    • Financial savings: Reducing energy consumption can lead to significant cost savings for the organisation.
    • Team building and employee engagement: Involving staff in energy-saving initiatives fosters a sense of teamwork and demonstrates that their contributions are valued.
    • Well-being: Energy-saving measures can enhance workplace comfort and improve the overall well-being of employees.
  • Pre-requisites and specificities

    • Organisational commitment: The organisation must invest in energy-efficient equipment, modernise infrastructure, and undertake structural upgrades (e.g., IT systems, energy supply, and building improvements). Behaviour change must be supported through tangible organisational actions, rather than relying solely on individual efforts.
    • Contextual considerations: Tailor the programme to the organisation’s specific environment, culture, and workforce dynamics, ensuring alignment with its unique characteristics and operational constraints.
    • Sustainability over time: Behaviour change is a prolonged process, and awareness-raising actions may need to be carried out over several months to ensure that the changes are sustainable. It cannot be assumed that providing access to information will automatically result in behaviour change.
    • Long-term planning: Given the high staff turnover in many organisations (e.g., humanitarian sector), behaviour change programmes must be designed to maintain continuity and success beyond individual participation.
  • Success conditions

    • Inclusive engagement: Involving people from the beginning fosters collective ownership, builds trust, and keeps staff engaged by sharing results, highlighting achievements, and acknowledging contributions. Ongoing communication helps maintain motivation.
    • Leadership by example: Leaders must model the desired behaviours, demonstrating commitment to energy-saving goals, thus setting the tone for the rest of the organisation.
    • Positive and creative approaches: Use methods such as humour, games, and rewards to inspire behaviour change, emphasising encouragement and pride. This helps avoid feelings of guilt, creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for behaviour change.
    • Communicating co-benefits: Changing behaviour regarding energy use is challenging as it often requires shifting personal habits and perceptions of ‘comfort’. It is important to communicate co-benefits of reducing energy consumption.
    • Tailoring approaches: Behaviour change activities must be tailored to the diverse profiles of employees, including their level of motivation, cultural habits, and their individual responsibilities related to facility management. For example, while cost savings may motivate management, they might not resonate as strongly with all staff. Understanding the reasons behind why certain behaviours persist is critical, as this insight helps to adjust communication strategies and messaging accordingly.
    • Feedback mechanisms: Establish systems to gather input from staff, identify barriers, and understand willingness to change, allowing for programme adjustments to improve effectiveness.
  • Potential risks

    • Rebound effect: Initial successes in energy savings may lead to unintended increases in energy consumption. For example, over-reliance on renewable energy might reduce perceived need to reduce energy consumption. Short-term initiatives might achieve temporary reductions, only for energy use to rise once the programme ends.
    • Staff turnover: High turnover rates, especially in humanitarian organisations, can disrupt the continuity of behaviour change programmes. Long-term planning is crucial to mitigate this risk and ensure lasting impacts.

Success stories

ICRC Cameroun: Awareness-raising sessions

Every week, the ICRC office in Cameroun organises a 1-hour awareness raising session on waste reduction/management actions as well as a discussion with staff. This helps promote behaviour change and is a great team building exercise.

Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland: Awareness-raising campaign

More than 160 public organisations signed up to an energy saving campaign, representing over 70% of the public sector’s energy use. Participating organisations implemented measures such as reducing heating temperatures, setting operating hours for heating, and turning off heating earlier. Staff awareness increased significantly, rising from 43% to 76% after the campaign, with 71% of staff reporting they turned off lights and devices, compared to 44% prior to the campaign. A 13% reduction in energy consumption was reported.

MSF in Nigeria: Temperature standards

The temperature of the pharmacy operated by MSF (insulated and equipped with 10 air conditioners) was raised by 4°C. This led to a reduction of 50% of fuel consumption – savings of 18,100 euros and 40 tonnes of CO2 per year. See MSF Pacemaker, p. 81.

UNHCR: Smart energy meters in Kakuma Refugee camp

The installed energy smart meters are providing accurate monitoring data for facilities powered by diesel generators, helping to inform the design of renewable energy systems.

Bergerac hospital (in French)

In this video, the energy-saving solutions implemented by Bergerac Hospital are explored, covering both everyday eco-friendly actions and more impactful measures aimed at reducing energy consumption.

Tools and good practices

  • Planning handbook on raising staff awareness

    The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland published this comprehensive handbook to help plan and implement a staff awareness campaign to reduce energy use.

    Read here
  • Campaign planning checklist

    The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland published this checklist to help plan and implement a staff awareness campaign to reduce energy use.

    Explore here
  • Communication material for an awareness-raising campaign

    The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland put together a wealth of communication material, including e-mail templates, posters, and checklists to support an energy use reduction campaign.

    Discover here
  • ADEME, Energy saving gestures (in French)

    A set of easy-to-understand pictures, without text, that can be used to raise awareness or be printed as posters in the office.

    Read here
  • MSF, Energy tool

    This tool comprises three sections (General Energy Questions, Energy Card, and Energy self-assessment), and characterises the energy context of the facilities (sources, total consumption, level of maintenance, quality, etc.).

    Explore here
  • ADEME, 10 tips for saving energy this winter (in French)

    10 essential energy-saving tips to help reduce energy consumption at home and lower costs during the winter months.

    Read here
  • Sample Energy Pledge for staff

    Thompson Rivers University, Canada, published a list of potential elements to include in an energy saving pledge.

    Discover here
  • Awareness raising video, Energy: Let’s save it!

    A classic animated cartoon featuring only images and music. The cartoon highlights both the negative and positive behaviours in energy consumption, offering valuable energy-saving tips along the way.

    Watch here

To go further

  • International Energy Agency, Empowering people to act: How awareness and behaviour campaigns can enable citizens to save energy, 2022

    The resource provides further information about how the choice of message, the tone, how the campaign is designed and the transmission channels, can significantly affect the resulting impact on behaviour of an energy reduction campaign.

    Read here
  • ADEME, Reducing energy use of air conditioning, 2021 (in French)

    This resource examines the increasing use of air conditioning in homes and businesses, highlighting its environmental impact and exploring strategies for more sustainable usage to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions."

    Explore here
  • MSF, ICRC, Energy behaviour change project report

    The project report provides an overview of key learnings and achievements of an energy behaviour change project conducted jointly by ICRC and MSF OCG.

    Read here

Sources

(1) IPCC, ‘Chapter 2: Emissions trends and drivers’, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2022, Available here, (accessed 1 December 2024).

(2) Ministère de la transformation énergétique et de la cohésion des territoires, ‘Chiffres clés de l’énergie ‘, 2024, Available here, (accessed 3 December 2024).

(3) Climate Action Accelerator, ‘ Towards halving Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Humanitarian Sector: a Sectoral Roadmap’, 2024, Available here, (accessed 3 December 2024).

(4) Global Platform for Action, ‘Decarbonising Humanitarian Energy’, 2023, Available here, (accessed 3 December 2024).

(5) O.Grafham and G.Lahn, ‘The Cost of Fueling Humanitarian Aid’, Moving Energy Initiative, 2018, Available here, (accessed 3 December 2024).

(6) Health Care Without Harm, ‘Health Care’s Climate Footprint’, 2019, Available here, (accessed 3 December 2024).

(7) Creutzig, F et al.,’ Demand, services and social aspects of mitigation’, in IPCC, 2022: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2022, Available here, (accessed 1 December 2024).

(8) Ministère de la transformation énergétique et de la cohésion des territoires, ‘Chiffres clés de l’énergie ‘, 2024, Available here, (accessed 3 December 2024).

(9) Agence de la Transition Énergétique (ADEME), ‘Panel usages électrodomestiques’, 2021, Available here, (accessed 3 December 2024).

(10) Agence de la Transition Énergétique (ADEME), ‘Sobriété énergétique : des leviers d’action pour les collectivités’, Available here, (accessed 3 December 2024).

(11) Agence de la Transition Énergétique (ADEME), ‘Sobriété énergétique : des leviers d’action pour les collectivités’, Available here, (accessed 3 December 2024).

(12) Global Platform for Action, ‘Decarbonising Humanitarian Energy’, 2023, Available here, (accessed 3 December 2024).

(13) Agence de la Transition Énergétique (ADEME), ‘Panel usages électrodomestiques’, 2021, Available here, (accessed 3 December 2024).

Cover photo: Enrico Mantegazza/Unsplash