The Great Potential of Green Nudges in Georgian Universities

Green nudges are small changes in the decision-making environment that encourage environmentally friendly behavior without limiting individual freedom of choice. This approach is outlined in UNEP’s guide The Little Book of Green Nudges. The recent study reviewing the implementation of green nudges across South Caucasus universities also highlights important trends.

Universities are particularly favorable environments for introducing green nudges. They nurture the next generation, which can carry these behavioral habits into broader society, while the closely connected academic communities allow small changes to spread quickly and widely.

In Georgia, the adoption of green nudges is still at an early stage, but some clear patterns are already visible. Energy conservation nudges are by far the most widespread. Universities tend to favor measures that are easy to implement: installing energy-saving lights, enabling eco modes on equipment, and using motion sensors for lighting — these are among the most popular actions. One of their advantages is that they bring quick results without requiring much active engagement from users.

Water conservation nudges are also fairly common, though mostly in basic forms, such as regular leak checks on faucets. More advanced solutions, like installing sensor faucets or smart irrigation systems, are still rare. Reducing material consumption and promoting recycling is another popular direction, with universities introducing electronic document systems or installing water coolers to minimize resource use.

Looking at specific methods, the most successful are infrastructure-based nudges — such as setting computers to eco mode. In contrast, behavior-oriented nudges, like encouraging bicycle use or offering courses on sustainable living, are much less common.

Efforts aimed at promoting sustainable diets and reducing food waste remain relatively underdeveloped. This indicates that while technical changes are easier to implement, initiatives that require shifts in personal behavior demand significantly more effort and motivation.

Despite the challenges, the potential of green nudges in Georgian universities is truly significant. With relatively low costs, they offer the opportunity to achieve environmental impact and to shape more sustainable habits among students and staff. The main challenge is to increase engagement and to integrate green initiatives into everyday decision-making. If this is achieved, green nudges could become a cornerstone for driving environmental change within Georgia’s educational system.

Find the full report here.