Effectiveness of Displaying Energy Consumption Data in Residential Buildings: To Know Is to Change

Tsuyoshi Ueno, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
Kiichiro Tsuji, Osaka University
Yukio Nakano, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry

Keywords

Abstract

The authors have proposed a method of reducing the energy consumption in residential buildings by providing household members with information on energy consumption in their own houses. An on-line interactive “energy consumption information system” that displays power consumption of up to 16 different appliance, and power consumption of the whole house was installed in 9 homes. Moreover, a remodeled system that displays city gas consumption of the whole house, and room temperature in addition to power consumption was constructed and was installed in 10 additional homes. The intent was to motivate energy-saving activities and raise energy-saving consciousness. The effects on energy consumption have been analyzed in detail based on the monitored energy data before and after the installation of the system, which have shown a reduction in household energy demands.

This paper describes the amount of energy savings actually achieved by setting up the display system. It then proceeds to describe how these savings were achieved by the residents, i.e., what kinds of energy saving activities were induced by looking into the visualized energy consumption data. In addition, we look at how the comfort of the residents changed, i.e., how the space heating periods and the room temperatures were different.