Behavior and Energy Savings in Business Establishments

Panel: Human and Social Dimensions of Energy Use: Trends and their Implications

Authors:
Ken Tiedemann, BC Hydro
Iris Sulyma, Power Smart, BC Hydro
Ron Sahota, BC Hydro
Jack Habart, Habart & Associates

Abstract

Research on energy savings in businesses has been dominated by an engineering economics paradigm, in which economic agents adopt practices and technologies which are cost effective. This paper, together with its companion paper on behavior and energy savings in residential dwellings, challenges this paradigm and reports on a preliminary behavioral study done with business customers. Using data collected from an on-line survey of 279 business customers, we develop and apply a conditions, capacity and commitment model of behaviour, which argues that conservation and energy efficiency adoption depend on the customer's satisfaction with and level of concern around energy efficiency (conditions), the customer's ability to act to change or modify service levels (capacity), and customer's undertaking or implementation of energy efficient actions or practices (commitment).

The implementation of the model was based on a detailed survey that focused on several main business energy end uses, including indoor lighting, air conditioning, and space heating. For each end use area, respondents were asked a series of scaled questions dealing with their satisfaction with service levels for the end use (such as lighting levels or temperatures); their ability to modify or change service levels (such as local on/off switches or HVAC controls); and the extent to which they performed energy efficient actions or behaviors (three possible actions for each end use). The study found that task lighting, day lighting, use of natural ventilation, thermostat set back, and use of window blinds are the most promising areas for behavioral energy change in businesses.