Effectiveness of displaying energy consumption data in residential houses – Analysis on how the residents respond

Tsuyoshi Ueno, Ryo Inada, Osamu Saeki, and Kiichiro Tsuji, Osaka University

Keywords

Energy information, Energy consumption, Energy saving, Monitoring, Residential house

Abstract

Providing the residents with information on their energy use has become a feasible option to promote energy savings in residential sector. The authors have constructed an interactive "energy consumption information system" that displays energy consumption of the whole house and domestic appliances. The display system were set up into 10 residential houses and the effects on energy consumption have been analyzed in detail based on the monitored energy data before and after the installation of the system and also on the log of how the residents responded through the keyboard.

In this paper, the amount of energy savings actually achieved by setting up the display system and how these savings were achieved by the residents will be described. Some of the observed facts to be shown are the following:

The responses of residents to the questionnaire were received for more than nine months and provided us with useful information. The participants became especially interested in the daily load curve.

Total energy consumption was reduced by 12 % after the installation of the system.

60 % of the houses recognized and reduced standby power consumption.

70 % of the houses paid attention to the energy consumption for space heating and they have taken actions such as switching to other appliances and reducing the length of space heating. Some of the houses were successful to cut down their heating demand by 20–45 %.