Before and After a Home E nergy A udit : Changes to Consumption B ehaviour

Before and After a Home Energy Audit: Changes to Consumption Behaviour Michelle Grace Scott Behave Energy Conference 2014 Kā Rakahau o Te Ao TūroaCentre for SustainabilityAgriculture  Food  Energy  Environment

Our Objectives Drier homes Warmer homes More energy efficient homes

Housing Situation • New Zealand’s relatively poor housing stock • A lot of Dunedin houses are damp, single glazed with inadequate insulation • Strategies such as energy feedback may not be appropriate • Goal is to use energy more efficiently and be warmer & drier rather than overall consumption reduction

Intervention • Home Energy Audits • Expert advisor • Personalised tailored advice • Not common in NZ • Uptake was difficult

Research Questions How the home energy audit affects: Behaviouraround energy in their homes Energy awareness and energy literacy Social norms around energy issues

The Energy Cultures Framework • Material culture Self-reinforcing • Norms • Energy practices

“Material culture” Insulation House structure Heating devices Energy sources • Material culture

“Energy practices” Turning on heater • Energy practices Drawing curtains Putting on jersey Maintaining heating technologies

“Norms and Aspirations” Norms and aspirations Expected warmth levels Maintaining traditions Environmental concern Social aspirations

The Energy Cultures Framework Have • Material culture • Norms and aspirations • Energy practices

The Energy Cultures Framework Have • Material culture Do • Norms and aspirations • Energy practices

The Energy Cultures Framework Have • Material culture Do Think • Norms and aspirations • Energy practices

Method < 1 week 4-6 months

Motivations • “We would like to find out what we can do to keep in heat and run our house energy efficiently” • “In our house we are either cold in the cool months or we spend a great deal trying to heat the space. We'd like to be warmer with less cost and waste.” • “I am interested in sustainability and would like to not waste much energy. I like to keep my costs low on long term and do like low tech approaches.”

Demographics Income Housing Percentage Percentage Everyone who had audit lived in a separate house, with average of 8 rooms

Pre Audit Measures No differences between suburbs on knowledge or reasons to change energy consumption

Pre-Audit Measures • No significant differences between suburbs on their material culture

Energy Use After Audit

Energy Literacy • No significant differences on energy literacy before and after audit

Practices • Dry your laundry outside • Do the laundry on cold wash settings • Pull the curtains at night • Turn appliances off at the wall (not just leave them on standby) • Reduce heating in unoccupied rooms

Practices • After the audit, more people reported practicing energy efficient behaviours (t (19) = -2.69, p = <0.05)

Materials • How much of your floor is covered with good quality, heavy duty carpet? • What proportion of your windows have well fitted and heavy curtains/drapes? • In what proportion of your home do you have energy saving lights?

Material Changes • After the audit, more people reported having improved their material culture (t (19) = -4.58, p = <0.01)

Household Changes • “Installed pelmets and lined the curtains. Installed under floor insulation.” • “Increased amount of insulation - much more to do. Investigated and still working on ways to harness sun's energy to improve inside temperature.” • “New thick curtains in bedrooms. New fireplace. Ceiling insulation. Turning more things off at the wall.”

How helpful were these organisations/people?

Influencing Others • “Yes, I have older children in their own homes and I have taught them things that I learnt.” • “Have passed on some thicker curtains to other residents.” • “I have shown people my windows and told friends about the positive effect. Some are now interested in doing more research on filling the draft gaps and double glazing.”

Conclusions • Audits helped to change practices • Audits also led to changes in material culture • Audit encouraged people to discuss energy changes with others • Can be effective way of encouraging change in overall energy culture

Thank You michelle.scott@otago.ac.nz Behave Energy Conference 2014 Kā Rakahau o Te Ao TūroaCentre for SustainabilityAgriculture  Food  Energy  Environment

Before and After a Home E nergy A udit : Changes to Consumption B ehaviour