The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has long identified sustainability as one of its key areas to be addressed. It is embedded across all relevant learning areas, research, capital projects, and routine operations. It is wide-ranging and applicable across our daily habits and patterns of living. The University is prioritizing sustainability and utilizing all suitable channels and tools to deliver sustainability education and advocate a behavioral change.
Sustainability education may appear abstract, and changing our behaviors can be hard. PolyU, therefore, introduces the GreenCoin initiative that makes sustainability education exciting, engaging and empowering through gamification and a mobile app. They are good and useful vehicles to entertain the campus community and also inspire them to experience the consequences of their actions.
“GreenCoin is PolyU’s innovative initiative to promote green culture and reward sustainability actions on campus, and it is the first of its kind to be seen among local tertiary institutions as we are integrating and applying game mechanics to sustainable education,” elaborated by the Head, Campus Sustainability Mr. Joseph Chan, “It is trendy and effective to use gamification to spread sustainable behavior through rewarding people for sustainable choices. This GreenCoin will motivate our staff and students to learn and pick up sustainable lifestyles on the go and incorporate responsible choices into their everyday routines. They will find their green actions such as bring-your-own (BYO) cups and plastic recycling even more fulfilling, worthwhile and entertaining.”
Initiated by the Campus Sustainability Office (CSO) and supported by PolyU’s Department of Computing (COMP) in service design, system and app development, the GreenCoin initiative invites current staff and students to download and install a dedicated mobile app on their mobile devices to gain and use virtual credits in the name of Coins. Upon performing and fulfilling certain specified green actions such as practicing bring-your-own food containers, supporting plastic bottle recycling and joining sustainability events, users will be able to earn and accumulate Coins with the mobile app. They can exchange their earned Coins for gifts or specific e-coupons for use in dedicated campus facilities.
“People are easily attracted to participate in gamified experiences. The challenge is exciting, and the validation of gaining virtual credits or winning rewards feels good. They will remember, share and discuss how they benefit from and enjoy the game,” explained by Dr Peter Ng from the Department of Computing. “Individuals feel more motivated and capable when they are rewarded for completing their goals. Such a gaming strategy can integrate seamlessly with sustainable education, and we can keep our staff and students enthusiastic and engaged with our sustainable messages for longer.”
Dr Peter Ng and his team spent much time and labor in bringing the GreenCoin mobile app to live. They work hard to define a suitable game design and architecture, and ensure it works on different mobile device models. They are careful about its visual design as well. “We aim to make the onboarding experience for users amusing and helpful. We are certain that our efforts will pay, and we are happy to see that our profession can continue to contribute to advancing the cause of sustainability. We are planning to roll out more game rules and activities in the near future since GreenCoin is a good vehicle to drive behavioral change by taking advantage of people’s eagerness to be part of a game.”
Redemption of e-coupons is definitely a top-ranking tactic for driving loyalty and motivation. With the GreenCoin app on their mobile devices, staff and students can accumulate Coins and get rewarded as they can turn the credits (Coins) into e-coupons. “But that’s not the whole story,” said Joseph, “we offer digital coupons via the app. They don't even have to be printed out anymore. Users can search and redeem an e-coupon via their mobile phones with just one or two clicks. They are a convenient option compared to printed coupons, and they echo the University’s call to reduce paper consumption. Moreover, we have a matrix of e-coupons for selection. Users can get dining deals or to earn products and gifts such as reusable utensils and coffee mugs. They can also choose the e-coupon that qualifies them for a free fitness room session. With this variety, we are presenting to the users the multiple dimensions of sustainable and green lifestyles. We encourage staff and students to look into BYO habits for takeaways and also practices to improve their physical and mental well-being through sports activities.”
Office of Counselling and Wellness (OCW) is one of the partners of this initiative. Dr Lit Siu-wai, Head of the Office of Counselling and Wellness, agreed that “GreenCoin initiative is something on campus that matches well with the mission of OCW on wellness promotion. In the GreenCoin initiative, students and staff are encouraged to participate in sports activities and we are happy to see users pick and redeem the e-coupons for a free session of Fitness Room at Block X Sports Centre. We hope that this will motivate them to participate in physical activities continually.”
Communal Student Canteen (3/F, Communal Building) also offers its support. Those who bring their own food containers for takeaway meals at the Canteen will obtain a receipt with a QR code that translates into Coins. With sufficient Coins, students and staff can redeem e-coupons bringing financial incentives for dine-in meals. “We have been supporting the University’s various green and sustainable activities such as the No Straw Every Day campaign,” said Mr Eric Fung, Operations Manager of Maxim’s Caterers Ltd. that operates the canteen. “We should do something to engage our customers to make a difference. With eco-incentives and games, we can help convince them to curb their use of disposable items and stay greener.”
In this regard, GreenCoin is not just a game that induces lots of goal-bound fun. It presents great potentials to educate, inform and inspire the University community to appreciate sustainable experiences. “It is one of the ways to fast-track sustainability education in a medium that most people accept,” Joseph concluded. “Sustainability is always one of our core strategies, and we want to engage and drive behavioral change. With GreenCoin we are making it easy to relate sustainability to everyone personally. It is intended to convey sustainability messages and values through influencing individual choices in real-life contexts.”