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

Journal Article · Thu Jan 07 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Energy and Buildings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.01.005· OSTI ID:1290124

Konis, Kyle ^[1]; Orosz, Michael ^[2]; Sintov, Nicole ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
2. USC Information Sciences Institute, Marina del Rey, CA (United States)
3. USC Information Sciences Institute, Marina del Rey, CA (United States); USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, Los Angeles, CA (United States)

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.

• Research Organization: City of Los Angeles, CA (United States). Dept. of Water and Power
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: OE0000192
• OSTI ID: 1290124
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1324859
• Report Number(s): DOE-USC-00192-121
• Journal Information: Energy and Buildings, Vol. 116, Issue C; ISSN 0378-7788
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
Campus building energy competitions
energy feedback
demand response
psychosocial factors
building electricity sub-metering