Do Green Buildings Influence People's Lifestyle Decisions And Support For Environmental Policy?

Abstract

This thesis explores the possibility that experience with green buildings influences peoples' behavior in ways that help bridge the gap between, on one hand, public concern for the natural environment and on the other hand, willingness to adopt sustainable lifestyles and support pro-environmental policies. The study utilizes research on factors that influence behavior to construct a theoretical model in which these factors might be influenced by a person's experience in a green building. The study explores two specific possibilities of behavioral change: people may change their consumption habits to reflect a more sustainable lifestyle; people may change their political behavior to support policies that foster a sustainably built environment or even stricter environmental protection. The study includes a methodological exploration of how surveys could be used to explore the relationship between green buildings and peoples' behavior. It presents data from a pilot survey completed by 33 employees working in LEED-certified buildings in and around Dallas, Texas. The study concludes with recommendations for a more-thorough survey and other research to further develop the theoretical model.