Energy Use, Information, and Behavior in Small Commercial Buildings

Abstract

To explore behavioral effects on energy use in small commercial buildings, owners and managers of 40 small businesses were interviewed. These energy decision-makers were found to have very poor information on energy consumption and energy-using equipment. Small businesses are more willing to consider energy use when equipment is already being replaced for other reasons, so programs should intervene at the time of retrofits and remodels. The lack of information on energy use and energy-using equipment available to small businesses suggests that improved user information is a necessary component of an energy efficiency program. To further investigate the information component, graphical feedback was developed to display historical and comparative energy information. This graphical feedback was experimentally presented to a subset of store managers and their reactions were evaluated in open-ended interviews.