Energy Use The Human Dimension (1984) / Chapter Skim
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4: Individuals and Households as Energy Users
4: Individuals and Households as Energy Users
Pages 55-105
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From page 55... ...
Energy conservation will occur when a person, firm, or agency expects to save more than a dollar per dollar spent. Even in this dominant view of energy consumption, it is acknowledged that energy users do not always take the actions that will benefit them
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From page 56... ...
Such behavior is usually attributed to short-term energy price fluctuations, to time lags in adjustment, to the unavailability of complete information to guide and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 57... ...
The videotape on summer energy savings, for example, demonstrated the proper use of fans and natural ventilation in the evening; ways to shift the time or place of activities such as cooking and eating to decrease the need for air conditioning; dressing in lightweight clothing; and so forth. The script was carefully constructed to present energy efficiency as a positive action rather than emphasizing conservation.
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From page 58... ...
In a three-week follow-up after the experiment, the savings were 19 percent. These savings amounted to 26 and 63 percent, respectively, of the and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted.
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From page 59... ...
We identify some principles and offer some concrete suggestions for making energy information effective, and we present a detailed discussion of home energy audits as an example. FIVE VIEWS OF THE INDIVIDUAL AS ENERGY USER Energy User as Investor Energy users can be regarded as investors for whom energy has a cost that is carefully considered in making purchases of equipment that uses energy.
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From page 60... ...
A family decision to exchange a large "gas guzzler" automobile for a new fuel-efficient subcompact car can be and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 61... ...
They are also concerned with performance, safety, styling, status considerations, and other factors. To take another example, decisions about home improvements can have major implications for household energy use.
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From page 62... ...
People do not usually weigh the potential value of the energy saved by one purchase against the pleasure, and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 63... ...
The and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 64... ...
and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 65... ...
Penz followed numerous false leads from the telephone Yellow Pages and other sources, spoke with unresponsive retailers and utilities, and went through and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 66... ...
In and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 67... ...
Although imitation has and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 68... ...
and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 69... ...
Rather, the single event often has a decisive impact far beyond its logical status. and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted.
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From page 70... ...
and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 71... ...
Other studies suggest that adoption of one energy-saving practice led easily to the adoption of others. Some of the practical implications of this dynamic are explored further in the section below on energy information programs.
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From page 72... ...
In three studies in California, it was shown that people who score high on an index of these behaviors were more apt than others to intend to purchase, or to and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 73... ...
Understanding energy-related values and norms will also be useful for understanding public support and opposition to energy policies and programs. MAKING ENERGY INFORMATION PROGRAMS EFFECTIVE Chapter 3 and the previous material provide a basis for understanding household energy users.
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From page 74... ...
In short, the creators of government information programs have usually assumed that energy users act as investors. Federal energy information programs have also proceeded from implicit assumptions about the way information works -- and those assumptions are fundamentally wrong.
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From page 75... ...
Clearly, political pressure from affected interests as well as legitimate of manipulation have a role in the design of particular informational programs. This is why some energy information programs have been pursued more aggressively than others and why the importance given energy information, and the form it takes, changes with national administrations.
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From page 76... ...
SOURCE: Energy, Mines and Resources Canada The difference between the Canadian and U.S. approaches appears to lie partly in the extent to which energy conservation is defined as a public interest in the two countries.
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From page 77... ...
Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution. INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS AS ENERGY USERS SOURCE: Energy, Mines and Resources Canada Fig.
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From page 79... ...
INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS AS ENERGY USERS SOURCE: Energy, Mines and Resources Canada Fig.
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From page 80... ...
Our discussion clearly suggests that judged against this criterion, existing and past energy information programs are ineffective. However, relatively few energy information programs have been formally evaluated, and the available evaluations have been much less systematic than is desirable for drawing firm conclusions.
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From page 81... ...
7 . Fuel economy label designs INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS AS ENERGY USERS 81
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From page 82... ...
But what of the general issue: how valuable is energy information? A careful analysis of the methodologies and data convinces us that some energy information programs have been effective in terms of producing economically justified energy savings by consumers.
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From page 83... ...
But there are still other problems and opportunities for information programs. Government programs have emphasized developing energy information that is accurate and reliable (in a scientific sense)
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From page 84... ...
We first discuss two topics that have been addressed by much careful research: the problems of attracting the attention of energy users and of making energy savings visible. Then we turn to home energy audit programs to show how this knowledge can be used.
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From page 85... ...
Nevertheless, available knowledge could be better used in the design of energy information programs, despite all the existing constraints. If information for energy users is to be effective, it must be presented to attract and hold attention.
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From page 86... ...
. Energy information programs have not generally followed these principles: energy information is often available only in monochromatic, small-print pamphlets distributed upon request by the Government Printing Office.
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From page 87... ...
If cooling or heating costs are higher after the investment than before, it is discouraging. For these reasons, energy information programs should benefit from making energy savings more visible to those who achieve them.
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From page 88... ...
In comparison groups and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 89... ...
Technical experts in residential energy conservation have long recognized this and have developed the concept of a home energy audit specifically to handle the problem of diversity -- to give householders expert advice suited to their individual situations. Over almost a decade, various programs to provide individualized energy information through home energy audits have existed in the United States.
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From page 90... ...
This presumably makes the information useful.17 The Effectiveness of Home Energy Audits Like other energy programs, RCS apparently assumes energy users are primarily rational actors who wish to minimize energy-related costs over an extended period and who need full information to make the most effective decisions. The attention to the use of the payback concept shows that RCS also recognizes that full information, depending on how it is presented, may be more or less useful.
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From page 91... ...
They suggest that large organizations sponsoring audit programs may be more effective in getting attention if they join forces with local groups that have personal contacts with the intended clientele. Aggressively pursued information programs can be effective with low income groups when the programs emphasize energy-saving techniques appropriate to their clients.
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From page 92... ...
and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 93... ...
The energy audit process should be treated as one of interpersonal communication rather than one of machinelike information and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 94... ...
Superconservers are families who save more energy and money than the average. The auditor might say something such and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted.
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From page 95... ...
Recent research has shown that information is moreor less effective depending on the way it is "framed" (Tversky and Kahneman, and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 96... ...
Thus, an energy auditor may show a householder how to install a flow limiter in a shower or how and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 97... ...
A third strategy is to organize a program so as to encourage and ensure good work: strict standards for materials, independent inspection of work resulting from the energy audits, independent conflict resolution mechanisms, and other consumer protection features are examples of useful procedures. Some procedures like these are incorporated in the regulations
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From page 98... ...
But experiments with independent information sources would be valuable because of the obvious need for credible sources of energy information for household energy users.
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From page 99... ...
Whether governments will develop or require more effective information programs depends on the definition of a public interest in energy efficiency, allocation of sufficient resources, and willingness to adopt some of the more aggressive approaches that make information more effective. SUMMARY AND IMPLICATIONS Five different views of the individual energy user contain important elements of truth.
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From page 100... ...
Energy information is more effective when it makes energy and energy savings more visible and understandable to energy users. As was discussedin Chapter 3, to the extent energy flows remain invisible, energy users fail to respond to the signals given by rising energy prices.
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From page 101... ...
Energy information programs must earn public trust. This need must beaddressed in the design of any program.
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From page 102... ...
4. The estimates of energy savings in this study were based on calculations that project the effect of energy-efficiency investments on energy use, rather than on measured energy consumption.
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From page 103... ...
and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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From page 104... ...
Although it is an imperfect guide to economic self-interest, it is potentially usable by an average householder. However, it is only one of several possible simple and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted.
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From page 105... ...
That one item is marked down 33 percent and the other only 4 percent does not make one trip more worthwhile than the other and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.
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