WC133 NovDec 2023 - Magazine - Page 33
LEED-certified water refilling stations demonstrate
how demand reduction strategies are built into the
very fabric of the campus.
Bridging design and behaviour
At the University of Calgary (UCalgary), these uncharted waters are being investigated as part of ongoing research through
its Building Better from LEED to Living: An Approach to Net
Zero Water Management. The study offers a comprehensive perspective on water sustainability that considers both the design
and social aspects and looks to utilize institutional conditions
to foster responsible engagement that will lead to a more
sustainable water future. As a result, this article presents a part
of the proposed water literacy framework developed under this
research, highlighting the hidden curriculum of LEED-certified
water systems and pinpointing the underlying drivers of water
sustainable practices and behaviours for the UCalgary campus
community.
Based on a pre-assessment survey questionnaire conducted
during 2021-2022, the impacts of LEED-driven design on user
perceptions and behaviours at UCalgary’s main campus were
examined. This survey revealed the need for improving both
campus community perceptions and interpretations as well
as prioritized the need for improving water users’ awareness
around the existing water sustainability efforts. The findings
underline the need for enhancement in sustainability performance through place-based learning and experiential learning
aspects. All of this aligns with several of the United Nations’
SDGs, most notably SDG 6, with shared values in SDGs 3, 4,
9, 11, 12, 13, and 16.
Analyzing user sentiments and preferences
To delve deeper, we assessed user sentiment toward existing LEED-induced water features on campus. This set of
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