Making a difference by using innovative interventions to make energy usage tangible in non-domestic buildings
| Date/Time: | 24 May 2012
12:30-12:45 |
| Location: | Energy Theatre One |
Seminar Details
It is widely agreed that occupants' behaviour and use of new technologies has a substantial impact on energy consumption in buildings. However, the potential opportunity to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions via changes in occupants' behaviour is less frequently accurately assessed. This study investigates how applying simple interventions such as interactive printed materials to an office building could help to save energy and increase occupants' energy awareness, not only by giving real-time feedback to the users about their building's energy use but also through increasing occupants' engagement and empowerment.
Halcrow headquarters in London, which is a 5-storey building with approximately 600 employees, has been taken as a case study. This recently refurbished building allows employees limited control over their immediate environment. Although this study mainly focuses on energy data from IT equipment and lifts, it also assesses the willingness of employees to tolerate slightly less favourable comfort conditions in order to achieve a reduction in energy demand. Employee surveys were conducted to measure changes in the occupants' energy awareness and also motivation level at pre- and post-intervention stages. Energy data collected at pre- and post-intervention stages was used to calculate the impact of the intervention on the energy consumption of the building.
Keywords: Behavioural change, Energy Awareness, Non-domestic Building, Interventions and Carbon Reduction
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