Companies are developing video games to teach green initiatives.
As concerns about the environment continue to mount, businesses and government agencies are turning to entertainment software to teach employees about sustainable strategies, cultivating a knowledgeable workforce that can lead our nation to a cleaner, greener future.
The U.S. Department of Energy launched the National Training and Education Resource, an online open-source platform that offers virtual training and game-based lessons for both public-sector and private-sector workers across the country. The platform includes a diverse selection of games that impart valuable lessons about green buildings, energy efficiency audits and compliance, renewable energy integration, and weatherization. For example, in the green buildings game, a user can “walk” through a 3D house to identify sources of energy loss, such as partially-opened windows, and also make safety checks on fragile ceilings and gas lines.
Fortune 500 companies also offer games that train employees to create more efficient work environments. The technology and energy company Siemens, for example, developed Plantville, an educational online game that lets players take on the role of a plant manager as they try to improve the productivity, efficiency, sustainability, and overall health of their facility. Plantville teaches current employees and those aspiring to a career in manufacturing about the environmental, business, and workforce issues present in the industry and how to overcome them.
