A study of relationships between life styles and residential energy consumption.

Abstract

Energy consumption in single family dwelling units was related to six factors, two of which were composed of structural variables; and the other four were composed of life style and stage of life cycle variables. The structural variables were the most important in the classification prediction process.

Energy consumption in all dwellings is largely a function of structural attributes and the occupants life styles which are home centered. Intensive use of the dwelling drives up energy consumption.

Energy consumption in apartment dwellings was principally related to a cluster of life style and demographic variables. The occupants of high energy consuming units stayed within the dwellings most of the time and used it intensively for family and domestic activities.

The purpose of the study was to examine relationships between structural and site characteristics of dwelling units, occupant's life styles, stage of life cycle and residential energy consumption. From a population of occupants of all-electric dwellings, constructed in one city within a specific time period, a sample was drawn for the single family dwellings, condominiums, and apartments.

Life style modifications could promote energy conservation. One such life style would be one that uses the dwelling for the barest of domestic chores. Entertainment, family activities, and child rearing activities would have to take place elsewhere. Such occupant behavior and use of time within the dwelling would be consistent with the energy conservations findings of this research.

Twenty-seven independent variables were associated with annual kilowatt consumption. These variables were factor analyzed and the resultant factor scores were discriminant analyzed. The discriminant analysis used the significant factors to predict which cases were high or low energy users.

Energy consumption in condominiums was principally related to several life styles, stage of life style, and some structural variables. The most important cluster of variables included family activities. The more intensively the condominium units were used the larger amount of energy was consumed.