Effect of energy information provision on occupant's behavior and energy consumption in public spaces

Abstract

'Nudge', which is a framework of altering people's behaviour in a predictable way without large penalty or economic incentives, is applied to energy saving measures of buildings in several papers. However, most of them focus on energy saving in a private space such as home, and little research has been done for energy saving in a public space. In this research, field experiments were conducted with the aim of energy saving in a public space by offering information. Focusing on individual behavior in a public space, we provided information directly to an individual, not to a public. By using power taps and thermal sensors, the individual equipment electricity consumption during absence, which is considered as the amount of energy wasted, is calculated. The subjects were divided into three groups. Through the information provision, some people changed their behavior and reduced energy consumption by approximately 70%. Furthermore, it was founded that those who originally consumed much energy even when absent might tend not to change behavior by receiving information. The results from this experiment will provide fresh insight into information provision such as data visualization for energy saving of a public space and be useful for life management of occupants.