EFFECTIVENESS OF TAILORED FEEDBACK ON ENERGY CONSERVATION FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Abstract

Energy conservation is an emerging trend to minimize the impact of global warming and resource scarcity. China, as the country which consumes the most energy in the world, had implemented various strategies in exploring alternative energy and solutions on controlling industrial and commercial energy consumption. Residential area or Household Energy Consumption was still behind the energy revolution schedule national wide. This dissertation studied the effectiveness of energy intervention strategies with eco-feedback and how different delivery methods influenced energy reduction given the sampling of 2 residential communities in Hangzhou, China. Results showed that Sticker Feedback intervention achieved the highest average total energy reduction of 16%, followed by Wechat Feedback and Consultation groups. The individual effects of Eco-feedback had no significant impacts on electricity energy consumption either during intervention or follow-up periods. Households concerned the most about monetary-savings message provided in the eco-feedback. These findings were consistent with other research. The energy reduction was found correlated with family income, education level and housing types. Those findings assisted in development of community energy conservation projects and concrete actions plans with consideration and recommendation.