Transformational Ecology Reports
Climate, Mind and Behavior Reports
Behavior Wedge Profile Model Development Report. A growing body of research has inspired urban sustainability directors around the country to address the human dimensions of energy and carbon as part of a comprehensive approach to address city-level sustainability challenges. Despite mounting interest, however, these efforts have been thwarted by the lack of affordable, city-level assessments of behavior-based savings opportunities. While city-specific survey-based approaches do offer a means of collecting much needed information about existing conditions and practices, they are often expensive and time-consuming to implement. On the other hand, the existing set of national-level assessments provide an affordable alternative source of data but lack the ability to account for important sources of regional and city-level variation whether in climate conditions, building stock, technology saturation, technology use practices, attitudes or other factors that influence how energy is used locally and which types of behaviors are likely to yield the most promising savings. This report documents a third alternative that provides a low-cost means for developing city-specific assessments of behavior-based energy and carbon reduction opportunities. The product of this approach is a city-specific Behavior Wedge Profile that highlights local opportunities and targets that can guide behavior-based strategies. 
Behavior Wedge Profile Model Development Report 2013 (916.88 kB)
Behavior Wedge Profile Description. Behavior Wedge Profile Assessments can be provided in a relatively inexpensive manner through the use of existing data sources and through a collective, one-time investment in the development of the underlying model. The use of existing data sources from the Energy Information Administration, the U.S. Bureau of the Census (among other sources) eliminates the need for developing, fielding and analyzing unique, city-specific surveys as a means of data collection and assessment. While the full development of the estimation model for all seven sectors is likely to be expensive, it represents a one-time investment with potential application in an unlimited number of cities. The Garrison Institute is working with a set of USDN member cities to develop and refine the Behavior Wedge Assessment Model and Profile Reports to assess behavioral opportunities for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in the residential and commercial building sectors. For more information, please contact Dr. Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez (
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) or Adam Meier (
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). Behavior Wedge Profile Description (4.18 MB)
Comprehensive Report on the 2012 Climate, Mind and Behavior Initiative. The Garrison Institute’s Climate, Mind and Behavior Initiative seeks to increase the prevalence of environmentally sustainable lifestyles, decisions, and practices among individuals, organizations, businesses and government entities across the US. In 2012, the Climate, Mind and Behavior Initiative began work on two innovative research projects, held two high-level symposia, and expanded its network of regional hubs and hub activities. The following is a summary of the principal research efforts initiated in 2012, a consolidation of symposium insights for each of the two symposia, and highlights of the hub activities. Garrison Institute CMB 2012 Report (3.69 MB)
Comprehensive Report on the 2011 Climate, Mind and Behavior Symposia, March-May 2011. While human behavior has often been identified as a cause of environmental stresses, it is much less frequently identified as a source of solutions. The Garrison Institute’s Climate Mind and Behavior (CMB) Program connects new insights from social and behavioral sciences about the drivers of human behavior with new thinking on solutions to climate change and other environmental issues. In 2011 the Garrison Institute held three high-level symposia for each of the three projects that make up CMB, including “Climate, Mind and Behavior,” exploring and applying social, behavioral, and cognitive science principles to environmental policies and programs; “Climate, Cities and Behavior,” developing effective, low-cost, people-centered strategies for achieving more sustainable resource use practices; and “Climate, Buildings and Behavior,” developing and implementing climate friendly in multifamily residential and commercial buildings. This report is a summary of key content from these three meetings. Garrison Institute CMB 2011 Report (4.06 MB)
The Social Brain and the Diffusion of Pro-Social Behavior is a background paper by John Gowdy for the Garrison Institute's Climate, Mind and Behavior Program, January 2011. "As society considers how to motivate humans to address the challenges of climate change, increasing attention is turning to biological insights into human behavior, an inquiry that is starting to supplant the economic paradigm of the 'rational actor' (a model individual who instinctively profit maximizes and optimizes behavior)..." John Gowdy: The Social Brain and the Diffusion of Pro-Social Behavior (559.87 kB)
Behavioral Economics, Neuroeconomics, and Climate Change Policy Baseline Review is a background paper by John Gowdy for the Garrison Institute’s Climate, Mind and Behavior Program, March 2010. "It has been suggested that public acceptance of the aggressive policies needed to mitigate the most serious damages from further climate change could be enhanced by a better understanding of the mental models people use to evaluate long term risks..." Behavioral Economics, Neuroeconomics, and Climate Change Baseline Review March 2010 (307.2 kB)
Report on the Climate, Mind and Behavior Project, March 2010. "The Garrison Institute's Climate, Mind and Behavior (CMB) Project, part of our Climate Change Leadership Series, integrates recent findings from the behavioral and social sciences, evolutionary theory and psychology about what drives human behavior, with new thinking about climate solutions. Over the last two years CMB has gone from conception to leadership in this important emerging field." Report on the Climate, Mind and Behavior Project, March 2010 (902.81 kB)
Real Estate Leadership in the Age of Climate Change, August 2009. "Buildings are responsible for 42% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, so real estate is a key sector through which to address climate change. In May 2009, the Garrison Institute held a three-day retreat for a group of thirty leaders of large and small companies in the real estate sector, leaders of not-for-profit community-based real estate organizations and rising young leaders, to discuss the real estate sector’s response to climate change." Real Estate Leadership Comprehensive Report, Aug '09 (235.41 kB)
Transformational Ecology Reports
Hudson River Project Comprehensive Report, September 2007. “The Hudson River Project… works with faith leaders to generate values-based conversation on environmental concerns, to catalyze “greening” of houses of worship and to encourage the use of spiritual teachings and contemplative wisdom in support of the social and behavioral changes needed to produce a healthier environment….” Hudson River Project Comprehensive Report (531.13 kB)