Mind the Sign: Engaging Green Building Communications for Campus Building Interiors

Amid rapid expansion of the global green building market, sustainable built interiors present compelling opportunities for informal environmental education. Signage systems remain the dominant approach to communicating green building innovations to building users, with the potential to complement sustainable interior design solutions with in-depth information or nudges toward behavioral opportunities. However, little evidence-based guidance exists to support the development of effective green building communications. This study evaluates a signage intervention designed using the “Mindfulness Model for Green Building Communication” in one case study Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-certified) residence hall, with comparison to a nearby non-green building. Mixed-method data were collected across a pre/post resident survey ( n  = 196) and in-depth resident interviews ( n  = 15) to examine the effect of the signage intervention on green building knowledge and environmentally responsible behaviors (ERBs). For ERBs, two low participation behaviors, stair-taking and shortening showers, were examined in depth. Results show that the signage intervention was cognitively engaging for residents, expanding their awareness of building features and behavioral opportunities within their green residence hall. However, stair-taking and taking eight-minute showers were found to be difficult behaviors to impact with signage. Implications for environmental graphics in green building interiors are discussed.