“Many tourist hotspots worldwide face unprecedented water stress levels, and we are trying to do our part to help the tourism industry use less water. Our research demonstrates that guests in tourist accommodations take shorter showers with enabling technology, reducing water, energy, and carbon emissions.”
It’s becoming more apparent that we need to conserve how much water and electricity we use for showers and baths generally. There are numerous campaigns asking us to reduce our shower time, but these findings are important as they show that carefully worded messages – and making people aware of their behaviour – can have a real and positive impact. As we approach what will likely be another busy tourism season here in the South West, people and organisations that want to help conserve energy and water can hopefully use these findings to help transform society and be more sustainable.
Kayleigh Wyles
Associate Professor in Psychology
- The full study – Pereira-Doel et al: Reducing Shower Duration in Tourist Accommodations: A Covert True Experiment of Continuous Real-Time Eco-Feedback and Persuasive Messaging – is published in the Journal of Travel Research, DOI: 10.1177/00472875241245045.
Psychology news
The study is the first attempt to track real-time occurrences of mental imagining of self-harm and how it relates to short-term fluctuations in risk
-
Study suggests real-time feedback in hotel showers could help the tourism industry cut water use
The University is among those involved in a trial of smart technologies that can provide holiday makers with consumer messages
-
£1.2 million project explores whether brain state alters the effects of ultrasound
The four-year initiative is being led by researchers from the University of Plymouth’s Brain Research and Imaging Centre
-
University showcases ideas and expertise at South West Innovation Expo
Up to 600 people - including researchers, businesses and funding bodies - are expected to attend the annual event
-
New research underlines need to be aware of loot box risks
Experts conduct the largest and most robust surveys yet exploring the video game components
- More related news