Switch Off Together: Building a Shutdown Culture in the Lab

We’ve talked before about plug loads and the energy wasted by equipment left on unnecessarily, a hidden but significant cost to both budgets and sustainability goals. (See our Switch Off to Save blog for more detail on that.)

But there’s one thing that’s harder than installing a plug timer or putting up a sticker: building a culture where everyone takes responsibility for switching off. Shutting down lab instruments and kit at the end of the day isn’t something one person can do alone, it takes teamwork, encouragement, and the right nudges to make it stick.

Why Shutdown Culture Matters

When shutdowns become routine, labs can save thousands of kilowatt-hours a year, extend equipment life, and cut costs. More importantly, it fosters a sense of collective ownership, the feeling that we are all part of making the lab more efficient. That’s powerful, because culture change is what makes sustainability last.

The EAST Framework. Making Behaviour Change Stick

A lot of shutdown campaigns fail when they rely only on posters or checklists. What makes the difference is understanding how people really behave, and that’s where the EAST framework comes in. Originally developed for health and safety, it’s a simple way to design actions that people will actually follow through on.

• ✨ Easy: People are more likely to act if it takes little effort. In the lab, that means making shutdown steps quick, simple, and clear.

• 🎁 Attractive: We’re drawn to things that are engaging or rewarding. If switching off feels like winning, celebrating, or even just fun, people do it more often.

• 🤝 Social: We copy what others do. When shutdown becomes the norm and everyone can see it, no one wants to be the odd one out.

• ⏰ Timely: The right prompt at the right moment works far better than a reminder at the wrong time. Linking shutdowns to an end of day cue or experiment finishing point makes it natural.

When all four come together, switching off isn’t a chore, it’s a culture. That’s the goal for labs: to make shutdowns second nature, something the whole team takes pride in.

Some Innovative Ways to Build a Shutdown Culture

Here are a few approaches that tick all four elements of EAST. Think of these as experiments you can try, or inspirations for you to create your own for your lab. Small changes which create big cultural impact.

Approach 1: 🪞 Energy Mirror

A dashboard showing live energy use, sash positions, or overnight plug loads can be a simple yet powerful motivator. Convert data into something relatable for example, “enough energy saved to power 3 homes” or “X kWh down since last week.”

• Why it works: People act when they can see the immediate effect of their actions and measure progress.

• EAST: Easy (dashboard is visible and interpretable), Attractive (animated graphics, progress bars), Social (leaderboards, team comparisons), Timely (feedback at the moment decisions are made).

• Try it: Start with one bench or fume hood; display savings weekly and celebrate the team that improved the most.

  
  

Approach 2: 🧾 Micro commitments & Onboarding Pledges

Invite each new starter to sign a brief pledge: “I’ll help my team shut down responsibly by checking X and Y.” Existing staff can recommit quarterly.

• Why it works: Public commitments increase follow through; micro pledges reduce the psychological barrier to starting.

• EAST: Easy (2 line pledge), Attractive (badge or recognition), Social (everyone participates), Timely (aligned with induction or quarterly refresh).

• Try it: Display signed pledges in the lab, or give small micro badges for those who take part to reinforce the norms.

  
  

Approach 3: 🎶 Two Minute Shutdown Ritual

At a set cue (lights dim, end of day bell), pause for a short, upbeat ritual: close hoods, power down non critical instruments, unplug chargers. Think of it as a mini team huddle which is fun, rhythmic, and visible.

• Why it works: Turns shutdown into a shared, positive habit rather than a chore for the last person leaving.

• EAST: Easy (just two minutes), Attractive (playful ritual), Social (everyone joins), Timely (at a consistent, memorable cue).

• Try it: Let the team pick the sound cue or mini ritual, and rotate who leads it to keep engagement high.

Real Labs That Have Made It Work

Harvard University, Shut the Sash: Using competitions, prizes, and real time dashboards, labs achieved measurable reductions in fume hood energy and created a long lasting shutdown culture.

The common theme? Measurement, visibility, team rituals, and social reinforcement, not shaming: drive real culture change.

Action of the Week:

Try one of these approaches in your lab for a week, or build your own! Track the simple metrics: number of devices switched off, hoods closed, or token counts if you use a rewards system.

Notice how the lab feels when shutdown becomes a shared activity rather than an individual chore. Small experiments like this often spark the biggest culture shifts. Let me know what works, your lab might inspire others!