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Before and After a Home E nergy A udit : Changes to Consumption B ehaviour

Before and After a Home E nergy A udit : Changes to Consumption B ehaviour. Michelle Grace Scott Behave Energy Conference 2014. Kā Rakahau o Te Ao Tūroa Centre for Sustainability Agriculture  Food  Energy  Environment. Our Objectives. Drier homes. Warmer homes.

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Before and After a Home E nergy A udit : Changes to Consumption B ehaviour

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  1. Before and After a Home Energy Audit: Changes to Consumption Behaviour Michelle Grace Scott Behave Energy Conference 2014 Kā Rakahau o Te Ao TūroaCentre for SustainabilityAgriculture  Food  Energy  Environment

  2. Our Objectives Drier homes Warmer homes More energy efficient homes

  3. Housing Situation • New Zealand’s relatively poor housing stock • A lot of Dunedin houses are damp, single glazed with inadequate insulation • Strategies such as energy feedback may not be appropriate • Goal is to use energy more efficiently and be warmer & drier rather than overall consumption reduction

  4. Intervention • Home Energy Audits • Expert advisor • Personalised tailored advice • Not common in NZ • Uptake was difficult

  5. Research Questions How the home energy audit affects: Behaviouraround energy in their homes Energy awareness and energy literacy Social norms around energy issues

  6. The Energy Cultures Framework • Material culture Self-reinforcing • Norms • Energy practices

  7. “Material culture” Insulation House structure Heating devices Energy sources • Material culture

  8. “Energy practices” Turning on heater • Energy practices Drawing curtains Putting on jersey Maintaining heating technologies

  9. “Norms and Aspirations” Norms and aspirations Expected warmth levels Maintaining traditions Environmental concern Social aspirations

  10. The Energy Cultures Framework Have • Material culture • Norms and aspirations • Energy practices

  11. The Energy Cultures Framework Have • Material culture Do • Norms and aspirations • Energy practices

  12. The Energy Cultures Framework Have • Material culture Do Think • Norms and aspirations • Energy practices

  13. Method < 1 week 4-6 months

  14. Motivations • “We would like to find out what we can do to keep in heat and run our house energy efficiently” • “In our house we are either cold in the cool months or we spend a great deal trying to heat the space. We'd like to be warmer with less cost and waste.” • “I am interested in sustainability and would like to not waste much energy. I like to keep my costs low on long term and do like low tech approaches.”

  15. Demographics Income Housing Percentage Percentage Everyone who had audit lived in a separate house, with average of 8 rooms

  16. Pre Audit Measures No differences between suburbs on knowledge or reasons to change energy consumption

  17. Pre-Audit Measures • No significant differences between suburbs on their material culture

  18. Energy Use After Audit

  19. Energy Literacy • No significant differences on energy literacy before and after audit

  20. Practices • Dry your laundry outside • Do the laundry on cold wash settings • Pull the curtains at night • Turn appliances off at the wall (not just leave them on standby) • Reduce heating in unoccupied rooms

  21. Practices • After the audit, more people reported practicing energy efficient behaviours (t (19) = -2.69, p = <0.05)

  22. Materials • How much of your floor is covered with good quality, heavy duty carpet? • What proportion of your windows have well fitted and heavy curtains/drapes? • In what proportion of your home do you have energy saving lights?

  23. Material Changes • After the audit, more people reported having improved their material culture (t (19) = -4.58, p = <0.01)

  24. Household Changes • “Installed pelmets and lined the curtains. Installed under floor insulation.” • “Increased amount of insulation - much more to do. Investigated and still working on ways to harness sun's energy to improve inside temperature.” • “New thick curtains in bedrooms. New fireplace. Ceiling insulation. Turning more things off at the wall.”

  25. How helpful were these organisations/people?

  26. Influencing Others • “Yes, I have older children in their own homes and I have taught them things that I learnt.” • “Have passed on some thicker curtains to other residents.” • “I have shown people my windows and told friends about the positive effect. Some are now interested in doing more research on filling the draft gaps and double glazing.”

  27. Conclusions • Audits helped to change practices • Audits also led to changes in material culture • Audit encouraged people to discuss energy changes with others • Can be effective way of encouraging change in overall energy culture

  28. Thank You michelle.scott@otago.ac.nz Behave Energy Conference 2014 Kā Rakahau o Te Ao TūroaCentre for SustainabilityAgriculture  Food  Energy  Environment

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