A framework for presenting energy efficiency feedback to operators of buildings

Abstract

In this study, facilities managers (i.e. operators) of thirty large Australian commercial office buildings received a short computer-generated email message every weekday morning conveying a “judgement” about their building’s energy use for the previous day. Messages conveyed either “good”, “bad” or “average” news in their subject line and a few short descriptive sentences and simple intra-day profile graphics within the body of the message. Together these pointed to performance anomalies and learning opportunities for the recipients to consider and discuss at regular fortnightly meetings with their peers from nearby buildings. The methodology adopted feedback design elements identified as important from residential studies but not previously applied in a non-residential context. Insights from the extensive literature on human motivation and behaviour, feedback methodologies and social learning theory were also applied. A significant divergence between actual and ‘predicted’ daily electricity consumption began to appear after about day 50 of the treatment and a mean improvement of greater than 6 percent was recorded over the entire intervention period. A saving of approximately 10 percent compared to the pre-intervention baseline was observed at 220 days. The study has implications for the design of programs aimed at reducing energy use from non-residential buildings, particularly in relation to the roles of motivation, goal setting and peer interaction, the development of skill and competency, and the permanency of savings. Noting evidence that individual behaviours are heavily influenced by social and institutional contexts and reactions, and hence not easily generalised or up-scaled, specific recommendations for presenting energy efficiency feedback to building operators are offered.