How Video Games Already Penetrate the Green Movement

Leaderboards, Achievements, Friends Lists, Level Progression. Though not unique to video games, these features are some of the most prominent things that have made the jump into the non-gaming world. The word "Gamification" has been coined to describe the trend, where video game mechanics, thinking, and constructs are used in non-gaming applications in order to increase engagement and use. If you want clear examples of how this has been done, look no further than the green energy movement.

The incorporation of game elements in green projects didn't come around suddenly. One of the first high profile examples started with the release of the Toyota Prius hybrid car. Outfitted with digital displays on gas and power usage, the driver was given a visual display that graphed the gas mileage over time. Though subtle, this display became the starting point for friendly competition among family members. Suddenly, mothers were tracking their mileage, and fathers were silently judging their children on how much the the graph has dropped since loaning out the car last Friday night. Social competition became the impetus for saving gas and saving money.

Prius Display - (Flickr user Listener42)

The Nissan Leaf looked at what worked before with the Prius and took it to the next level. By throwing a driver's data online and compiling it with anyone else who drove a Leaf, Nissan created world wide leaderboards which ranked people based on factors including energy economy and distance traveled. Competition among family members was not competition among neighbors, states, and countries. When everyone is competition to save energy, everyone ends up winning.

Gamification is not relegated to the hybrid and electric car market. Waste management and recycling is starting to incorporate an achievement and rewards system reminiscent of how video games try to get you to play more. Recyclebank, a service that works with Waste Connections, has put together a system where a customer's recyclables are weighted and points are given based on the amount recycled. These points can be redeemed for coupons and gift cards to popular stores. In the area where I live, only about 10% of the local population participated in the recycling program before Recyclebank came about. Now, participation has increased immensely, all because there's a small amount of incentive in turning your empty cans into discounts.

Recyclebank rewards - (Flickr user eagleapex)

This is just the beginning for the Gamification of green energy, and personally, I'm all for it. If we can get gamers to spend thousands of dollars on hats for their virtual characters, maybe we can use our powers to save a little energy in the process.