A research project investigating how nudge theory can influence ultra-low flushing toilet usage in communal washrooms by implementing IoT devices, has potential for improving sustainability of public facilities in office buildings and beyond.
The study by Joe Harrison, a Mechanical Engineering Master’s student at the University of Sheffield, was carried out in Europe’s largest greentech co-working space in central London, and aimed to optimise toilet use, reduce maintenance costs, and promote water conservation.
Nudge theory suggests that subtle changes in choice presentation can guide individuals (or ‘nudge’ them) towards better decisions without restricting their freedom of choice. Tests were conducted on two light-based nudges; red light illumination and dimming.
While red light illumination deterred users, dimming did not induce behavioural changes in the study, emphasising the potentail of using carefully designed nudge interventions, specifically light-based ones, to improve sustainability practices in office environments and public spaces.
Uneven usage results in disproportionate wear and tear, leading to increased maintenance costs and reduced product lifespan. Because toilet flushing consumes a significant portion of water in office buildings, optimising usage is crucial for water conservation and environmental sustainability.
The project was a collaboration between three industry parnters: Sustainable Ventures, operators of the greentech co-working space; Propelair, manufacturer of one of the world’s most water-efficient toilets; and IoMech, providers of IoT services and equipment.
“The goal of the project was to analyse the typical distribution use of a bank of ultra-low flushing toilets and investigate the effectiveness of various user behaviour manipulation methods in their ability to change the distribution of use,” said Harrison. “The results from this project were promising and I believe that further research in this area could apply this technology to other communal infrastructure applications where usage is uncontrolled, such as pumps at petrol stations, public lifts or toll booths on motorways.”
“Joe took a broad brief and distilled that down to a neat piece of scientific research. Water conservation is a critical problem in the 21st century and Joe identified and worked to develop an application of nudge theory that was innovative and practical,” said Dr David Polson, Project Supervisor. “He worked hard and took a methodical approach to show that nudge theory could be used to influence user behaviour, in order to reduce the maintenance burden of water saving devices. He is responsible for paving the way for future engineers to make better use of nudge theory in conjunction with their own water saving technologies.”
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