Occupant participation in energy conservation

Abstract

The performance of energy efficient buildings and building systems relies not only on intelligent design and use of appropriate building technologies, but is also largely dependent on the ways in which these advances in ‘smart' green building systems integrate with occupant use patterns to enhance overall life quality and support long-term behavioral transformation toward energy conservation practices. Research has shown that while approximately half of the energy used in the home depends on the physical characteristics of a house and its equipment, residents and their behavior influence the balance (Janda 2011). Differences in individual behavior have been shown to produce large variations – in some cases as much as 300% - in energy consumption, even when controlling for differences such as housing, appliances, HVAC systems, and family size (Keesee 2005; Hawk et al. 1989). This paper reviews our understanding of existing energy use patterns and adoption/utilization of energy conservation practices in residential and workplace settings. Our intent is to explore the critical human and social dimensions of sustainable building/community design, and to understand those characteristics that enhance inhabitant life quality and support long-term energy conservation practices. The paper reports on an initial phase of a project exploring how the use of embedded energy feedback technology is used to inform and support occupant energy conscious behavior.