How not to become an ‘axiom human’ – The paradox of energy efficiency and human behaviour

Zhao, Jill

Abstract

Buildings are the UK’s second-largest source of emissions. The household sector in particular, contributes to more than a quarter of the overall energy consumption and GHG emission, with space heating contributing to 63% of household energy consumption. In alignment with setting the sixth carbon target, the government published the Net Zero Strategy (NZS) in 2021, aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Sustainable building standard, such as the German Passivhaus standard has gained popularity as an efficient way to reduce operational energy use. The Passivhaus model emphasises a high standard of building fabric insulation and controlled ventilation with heat recovery in order to achieve comfort and reduce energy use. The implication is that environmental control is achieved by the building fabric and ventilation system with little need for significant occupant interaction or behaviour change in order to achieve comfort and energy efficiency. This paper challenges such views with empirical data from case studies of houses in the UK built to the Passivhaus standard. It uses inductive analysis of interview data, documenting user interactions with the houses, and opinions and attitudes of the occupants towards living in a Passivhaus. The results of this study show both comfort-driven and energy saving-driven behavioural adaptations among the occupants and that the Passivhaus system demands a high level of occupant interaction in order to achieve both comfort and energy efficiency. ‘Designing out’ occupant’s behaviour and reinforcing the image of automated comfort without facilitating occupant behavioural adaptations, could lead to user dissatisfaction and energy performance gap. To conclude, designing for energy efficiency or passive design does not necessarily mean designing for ‘passive people’. Behaviour adaptation is key in reducing energy demand even in a high energy standard dwelling as Passivhaus.

• Presentation Conference Type: Presentation / Talk
• Conference Name: Un/Building the Future: The Country and The City in the Anthropocene
• Start Date: Jun 14, 2023
• End Date: Jun 16, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jun 22, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 29, 2023
• Keywords: Axiom human, energy efficiency, human behaviour
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10882967