Eco-dormitory: How to Save Energy as a Residential Student Community

We examine how student dormitories can be transformed in terms of energy efficiency taking energy saving measures. The focus of the investigation is on the preferences and objective systems of student occupants. In order to ensure a reflective and systematic investigation, Value-Focused Thinking was applied in a workshop with 48 occupants of a student dormitory in Aachen, Germany. The final aggregated fundamental objectives developed by the workshop participants in group work are feasibility, profitability, health, ecological sustainability, comfort, and social harmony. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process approach these fundamental objectives were weighted by the participants. Fulfilling the fundamental objectives ensures that the initiatives are not only practical and economically viable, but also enhance the well-being and environmental responsibility of the occupants. By prioritizing these objectives, student dormitories can foster a culture of sustainability that resonates with students’ values and daily lives, ultimately leading to more successful and widely adopted energy saving practices.