High-performance buildings are only as effective as the behaviors of the people who use them. This is the core message behind a recent HGA study exploring the critical role of occupant behavior in the success of sustainable design strategies. Centered on a faculty housing project at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in northern Minnesota, our research investigates how residents interact with a passive cooling system—and why their choices matter.
Using a mixed-methods approach, including a survey, window audit, and a resident workshop, the study aimed to uncover both the barriers and enablers influencing sustainable behaviors, such as opening and closing windows or interacting with the building’s exhaust fan. By understanding how to educate and empower residents through strategies that aim to encourage sustainable behavior, we can close the gap between intention and action—ensuring buildings live up to their environmental promise. Read on to explore how we can design not just sustainable buildings, but empowered, informed communities to inhabit them.