Energy use behaviors in buildings: Towards an integrated conceptual framework

• Intentional energy use behaviors of occupants are highly influenced by their energy use characteristics.
• Energy use characteristics of occupants are measured using three constructs: motivation, opportunity and ability.
• Structural equation modeling establishes the relationship between influential factors.
• K-means clustering analysis allows occupants to be classified into five categories.
• Agent based modeling is used to predict energy savings from occupancy interventions.

To achieve significant energy reductions in buildings, decision-makers can engage occupants in different types of interventions such as information sharing, feedback and social marketing. To improve the effectiveness of these energy saving interventions, this study develops and tests a model which is capable of identifying occupants’ energy use characteristics and the influential factors of their energy use behaviors (e.g., turning off lights when not in use). The consumer segmentation approach from social marketing is adopted to divide occupants into different categories using three metrics: motivation, opportunity and ability. As a result, a set of hypotheses and corresponding measures are identified to study the effect of influential factors on occupants’ energy use characteristics and intentional energy use behaviors. The occupants are then clustered into five main segments that take into account how the occupants will respond to interventions. In the case study, a survey is designed to test the hypotheses and their validity using descriptive statistical analysis and structural equation modeling. The proposed framework is expected to provide decision-makers with useful information to design effective energy saving interventions to reduce overall energy consumption in buildings.