Behaviour and consumption patterns in energy renovation of residential buildings
Occupant behaviour in connection with renovation of residential buildings can affect energy consumption more than the nature and extent of energy saving measures in themselves. The project will focus on the impact of occupants’ behaviour on the energy savings that can be achieved by providing feedback on energy renovation of blocks of flats.
The project will focus on the impact of occupant behaviour on energy savings and indoor environmental improvements, related to renovation of apartments.
Occupants' behaviour in connection with renovation can have a greater impact on energy consumption than the nature and extent of energy saving measures themselves. The expected savings when renovating can easily disappear if occupants switch to a more energy-consuming behaviour. Conversely, a shift towards more energy-conscious habits will result in greatly en-hanced effects of the energy saving measures.
Specific knowledge about behavioural changes in energy renovations is extremely limited, but often it is the occupants’ behaviour that gets the blame when an energy retrofit does not achieve the anticipated savings.
Based on a comprehensive sequential energy renovation of a large apartment complex, the project will identify more and less appropriate behaviour in relation to energy savings. Different types of feedback on energy consumption and indoor environment will be tested on interactive, information screens in the apartments. By comparing measurements of energy consumption, indoor environment and behaviour before and after the renovation, the importance of, respectively refurbishment measures and behavioural changes can be quantified. This will enable development of principles for energy-saving measures aimed at optimising occupant behaviour.
After a comprehensive renovation of four residential apartment buildings, the heat consumption was reduced by 60%, to a level lower than predicted by calculations made prior to the renovation. Temperature measurements made before and after the renovation showed large diversity in the residents' temperature settings. Neither the diversity nor the temperature level changed with the renovation. Therefore, there was no evidence that the residents exchanged part of the energy saving potential to higher temperatures in the apartments.
During the renovation, in-home displays were installed in the entrance hall in all 244 apartments. The in-home displays show the consumption of electricity, water and heat for each apartment. On the screens, it is possible for residents to compare their current consumption to the consumption in previous months and to other apartments with similar occupant composition (age and number of occupants).
It is worth noting that the consumption of both electricity, water and heat decreased as the screens began to work. In particular, the reduction in hot water consumption was so large that it is difficult to explain without involving the screens. |
The in-home displays turn on when the screen is pressed and every time the apartment doors open. After the renovation, there was a period of up to a year when the screens were off and did not work. When the consumption during this period was compared with the consumption in a similar period with the screens in operation, it was found that electricity use had decreased by 15% and the consumption of domestic hot water had decreased by 34%, after the screens had started to work.
Although there was no significant correlation between the residents' interactions with the screens and the consumption of electricity, water and heat, it is worth noting that the consumption of both electricity, water and heat decreased as the screens began to work. In particular, the reduction in hot water consumption was so large that it is difficult to explain without involving the screens.
Key figures
Category
Participants
| Partner | Subsidy | Auto financing |
|---|---|---|
| Dominia |
