October 11th, 2009
How do you motivate healthy, green behavior?
The traditional approach is to offer economic incentives, which can be effective in some circumstances but often fall short.So here’s a small but intriguing alternative from Sweden: Motivation through engagement.
(HT: Scott Underwood)
Stephen Palmer on October 12, 2009
I love the concept, but I’d like to see this same study done on those same stairs a year from now. I suspect that those numbers will drop significantly once the novelty wears off — and it becomes more annoying than interesting.
Still, the concept is powerful and intriguing and I can see a lot of relevance to other industries and problems.
Jimmy Vu Nguyen on October 12, 2009
That’s a great idea for encouraging healthy and green behavior. I wonder what the statistics are on people that continuously choose the stairs over the escalator.
Not dealing with motivation, but I am curious if anyone has thought to introduce motion-sensor escalators. I’ve seen Walmart utilize motion-sensored lights in frozen food aisles and doors in every other establishment. Why not stairs too?
John Zimmer on October 12, 2009
A clever and wonderful idea. I just hope that nobody trips and falls while attempting to play chopsticks; otherwise the staircase sonata (or Stairway to Heaven?) might come to an abrupt end.
Tom on October 13, 2009
I have seen companies motive green behavior by putting their words into action. I recently completed a project in which the interior environment. Lighting, carpet furniture and just plain good design in the layout where everyone enjoys natural light. But all that comes from the top and not just a single act, but many small gestures to the employees that say we are green company as a whole.
Roy on October 13, 2009
Love the idea. I, too, wonder what the stats will be a year from now. How expensive is it to install and maintain those?
Shelley Dolley on October 13, 2009
Love this! Very fun. Great way to encourage healthy behavior. But if the escalator is running the whole time, how is it more green? Perhaps if the options were stairs vs. elevator. Thanks Dan!
Otto on October 20, 2009
It’s naive to believe this apparent interest will last once it becomes common place. As soon as the novelty wears off the drudgery of the stairs will be remembered and the escalator will once again dominate. Even with the novelty it only commanded 66%. It like the New Years commitment to exercise. The 1st month all is well, but how is the motivation at 6 months? It’s likely the numbers will stay the same except the escalator will command 66%!
Aseem on October 25, 2009
@Jimmy Vu Nguyen: I have seen some motion-sensor equipped escalators at some train stations in Japan… the Japanese do a lot on the eco-front… including keeping the ACs on 26 degree Celsius even summers even in private in workplaces