Is anyone aware of any CBSM projects (or other methodologies) around this behaviour? I am interested in any articles, cases or journals written around this topic.
Does anyone know how the 'money saved' or CO2 is calculated?
I am also interested in project's that use 'top-ten' energy saving behaviours in domestic homes that include turning down the thermostat.
Stuart Davies
Wales
Turn Thermostat Down 1 Degree
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Hi Stuart,
To address your question about money saved or CO2 saved -
There is no one answer about the CO2 saved from turning down the thermostat by 1 degree, because it depends on the fuel mix in the area where you want to encourage the behavior. Monetary savings would also be partially determined by fuel mix - you have to figure out what proportion of consumers use coal, nuclear, etc., and at what price, before you can calculate average savings for those consumers. In the U.S. the Energy Information Administration puts out numbers on the national fuel mix for home heating - maybe the UK does the same. But these calculations can get complicated.
Another metric to consider would be a simple savings percentage, which individual consumers could apply to their own situations. There is no hard and fast figure on the savings percentage from turning down the thermostat one degree, but there are lots of estimates. The U.S. government's Energy Savers website says you can save up to 1% on your heating bill by setting your thermostat back one degree for eight hours of every day. This would translate to a savings of up to 3% on your heating bill from setting your thermostat back one degree across the board (24 hours a day). Here's that link: http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12720. Other websites are more optimistic, citing up to 5% savings for every degree lower. (Google "Turning down the thermostat one degree saves 5%" to view a wide variety of opinions on this issue.) But my inclication would be to go with the government's number.
Best,
Sally
Sally Larsen
Sustainability Outreach Coordinator
The Supportive Housing Network of New York
United States
Dear Stuart,
I am quite familiar with these types of studies looking into changing the air-conditioning/thermostat set-point temperature in respect to saving energy and consequently reducing carbon emissions. There is a basic rule of thumb that says for every 1 degree turned up in summer (or turned down in winter) can save up to 10% of the energy used for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
There was a report done in Australia which looked at accurately quantifying these savings (which I have attached to this post). Their savings found this same number which they had tested on air-conditioning systems and monitored the energy consumed using a Smart Meter.
Just as Sally had said previously it is difficult to quantify the equivalent carbon emissions reduced from the energy consumption unless you know the energy source. However it is possible to use a carbon dioxide equivalent factor to convert energy consumption data to carbon emissions. I have included a 2011 report by the Australian Government which lists these factors for each fuel source (these numbers are based on Australian energy sources so you would have to use conversion factors based in your own country). I've provided an example of how to do these calculations (these were based on a building's energy consumption but could easily be adapted for appliances):
The energy consumed by each building was converted into kg/CO2 through use of standard kWh CO2 conversion rates for the state of NSW. Indirect emission factors estimate emissions of CO2, methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) expressed together as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e). GHG emissions in tonnes of CO2-e attributable to the quantity of electricity used were calculated using the following equation:
GHG emissions (t CO2-e) = Q x EF / 1000
Where: Q (Activity) is the electricity consumed expressed in kWh, and EF is the emission factor expressed in kg CO2-e/kWh (NSW = 1.068 kg CO2-e/kWh), e.g. 1000 kWh is equivalent to 1068 kg CO2-e.
I have also included another article which explains these methods and techniques in much greater detail using data from the UK which may be more relevant to your needs.
Hope this helps,
--Max
Max Deuble
PhD Student
Macquarie University
Australia
Hi Stuart,
We conducted this year 6 focus groups, and are starting right now a phone survey to verify why people turn down and why not.
Please find hereby the report (in French) about the focus group analyses (p25-29). We found that these were the main barriers: comfort - structural problems (no insulation, big space, technical equipment...) - health
these were the main motivators: cost reduction - comfort/health - environment.
Results survey will be ready within +- 1 month. If it can help you, please feel free to ask me resultats at that moment (our public is limited to Brussels - city environment).
Xavier Van Roy - Brussels Environment - [email protected] - T +32 (0)2 775 78 74
Xavier Van Roy
Communications Strategy Manager
Bruxelles Environnement
Belgium
www.bruxellesenvironnement.be
GLOBE (Green Light on a Better Environment) has the following program that may be of interest to you called the Community Champion Program which educates and enables the residents themselves to become agents of change in their own communities. Community Champions and housing staff receive energy conservation training, focused on the importance of resident behaviour. Resources, such as presentations, posters, communication tools and an online forum help them promote conservation basics to their fellow social housing communities.
This is about investing in communities, said Colin Gage, Chair of GLOBE and Vice-Chair of SHSC. The Community Champion program gives residents an opportunity to learn and truly participate in the sustainability of their community. They get the tools and resources to be part of the solution.
We also provide train the trainer training on the Community Champion Program.
See our website www.globeservices.ca and see our free toolbox and a short video on our Community Champion Program. If you would like more information email me at [email protected]
Elsie
Elsie Harvey
Stakeholder Relations Consultant
GLOBE (Green Light on a Better Environment )
Canada