A window into occupant-driven energy outcomes: Leveraging sub-metering infrastructure to examine psychosocial factors driving long-term outcomes of short-term competition-based energy interventions
Abstract
Competition-based “energy saving” interventions are increasingly promoted as an effective strategy for reducing energy consumption in buildings with large occupant controlled electrical loads. However, the factors that drive energy savings in such interventions are not well understood, nor are the impacts of short-term competitions on long-term energy performance. A total of 39 8-occupant suites in a freshman residence hall were instrumented with “smart” electric meters, which recorded circuit-level electricity consumption at 15-minute intervals. During a three-week Fall 2014 competition, suites competed to reduce their overall electricity demand and achieved a 6.4% reduction in whole-building demand overall and a 12% reduction during hours of peak demand (from 12:00 to 19:00), despite peak seasonal temperatures and all-time record electricity demand. Analysis incorporating weather-normalized HVAC demand after the competition showed a significant “rebound” for a large portion of the suites (19), however 12 suites made further reductions, and the remainder maintained demand at the competition level. As a result, we compared energy data with self-reported survey data and identified self-efficacy beliefs, pro-environmental behaviors, and sense of affiliation with other residents of the hall as key factors distinguishing the suites with the greatest and most persistent reductions in demand from suites that maintained ormore »
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
- USC Information Sciences Institute, Marina del Rey, CA (United States)
- USC Information Sciences Institute, Marina del Rey, CA (United States); USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- City of Los Angeles, CA (United States). Dept. of Water and Power
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1290124
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1324859
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-USC-00192-121
Journal ID: ISSN 0378-7788
- Grant/Contract Number:
- OE0000192
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Energy and Buildings
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 116; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0378-7788
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; Campus building energy competitions; energy feedback; demand response; psychosocial factors; building electricity sub-metering
Citation Formats
Konis, Kyle, Orosz, Michael, and Sintov, Nicole. A window into occupant-driven energy outcomes: Leveraging sub-metering infrastructure to examine psychosocial factors driving long-term outcomes of short-term competition-based energy interventions. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.01.005.
Konis, Kyle, Orosz, Michael, & Sintov, Nicole. A window into occupant-driven energy outcomes: Leveraging sub-metering infrastructure to examine psychosocial factors driving long-term outcomes of short-term competition-based energy interventions. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.01.005
Konis, Kyle, Orosz, Michael, and Sintov, Nicole. Thu .
"A window into occupant-driven energy outcomes: Leveraging sub-metering infrastructure to examine psychosocial factors driving long-term outcomes of short-term competition-based energy interventions". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.01.005. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1290124.
@article{osti_1290124,
title = {A window into occupant-driven energy outcomes: Leveraging sub-metering infrastructure to examine psychosocial factors driving long-term outcomes of short-term competition-based energy interventions},
author = {Konis, Kyle and Orosz, Michael and Sintov, Nicole},
abstractNote = {Competition-based “energy saving” interventions are increasingly promoted as an effective strategy for reducing energy consumption in buildings with large occupant controlled electrical loads. However, the factors that drive energy savings in such interventions are not well understood, nor are the impacts of short-term competitions on long-term energy performance. A total of 39 8-occupant suites in a freshman residence hall were instrumented with “smart” electric meters, which recorded circuit-level electricity consumption at 15-minute intervals. During a three-week Fall 2014 competition, suites competed to reduce their overall electricity demand and achieved a 6.4% reduction in whole-building demand overall and a 12% reduction during hours of peak demand (from 12:00 to 19:00), despite peak seasonal temperatures and all-time record electricity demand. Analysis incorporating weather-normalized HVAC demand after the competition showed a significant “rebound” for a large portion of the suites (19), however 12 suites made further reductions, and the remainder maintained demand at the competition level. As a result, we compared energy data with self-reported survey data and identified self-efficacy beliefs, pro-environmental behaviors, and sense of affiliation with other residents of the hall as key factors distinguishing the suites with the greatest and most persistent reductions in demand from suites that maintained or increased demand.},
doi = {10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.01.005},
journal = {Energy and Buildings},
number = C,
volume = 116,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 07 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Thu Jan 07 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
Competing priorities: lessons in engaging students to achieve energy savings in universities
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- International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 19, Issue 7
Occupant Behavior for Energy Conservation in Commercial Buildings: Lessons Learned from Competition at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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