Energy Saving at Work: Exploring the Role of Social Norms, Perceived Control and Ascribed Responsibility in Different Office Layouts

Xiaojing Xu,Chien-Fei Chen,Carol Menassa,Da Li

doi:10.3389/fbuil.2020.00016

Abstract

Reducing energy consumption in office buildings is critical for improving energy efficiency and decarburization at the large scale. This study (N=854) investigated the influence of social-psychological factors on energy-saving intention and behaviors in single-person versus shared offices based on the extend model of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). We found that ascription of responsibility, a variable added to the TPB, is the strongest predictor of energy-saving intentions for both single-person and shared offices. Interestingly, while injunctive norms are an important predictor of behavioral intention for single-person offices, descriptive norms are an important one for shared offices. Energy-saving intention mediates the influences of the aforementioned variables on energy-saving behaviors. Contrary to our hypotheses, perceived control over energy-saving and perceived ease of access to building control features have no direct impacts on energy-saving behaviors in single-person offices, but they have impacts on energy-saving behaviors in shared offices. This study provides useful insights for building designers and occupant behavior and energy modeling researchers.

Highlights

Buildings and appliances are responsible for 36% of primary energy use in the world, which leads to nearly 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (Abergel et al, 2018; John, 2019)
Future research could use both actual behavior. Considering both physical and social-psychological building factors, our study addresses the research gap in both occupant behavior and energy saving literature by identifying the unique contributors to energy-saving intention and behaviors in singleperson versus shared offices
This study demonstrates the important roles Ascription of responsibility (AR) and energy-saving intention have on energy-saving behaviors in different office settings

Summary

Introduction

Buildings and appliances are responsible for 36% of primary energy use in the world, which leads to nearly 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (Abergel et al, 2018; John, 2019). With the increased automation of Energy Saving at Work building energy control systems and the popularity of openplan workspaces, many office occupants lack control over windows, blinds, ceiling lights, AC thermostats, and other related environmental controls (Devlin, 2018). This situation leads to occupants’ low satisfaction with the work environment (Lee and Brand, 2005; Wagner et al, 2017), low tolerance for fluctuation of indoor conditions (Langevin et al, 2012), and few opportunities to save energy (Emery and Kippenhan, 2006; Meier, 2006)

Results

Discussion

Conclusion