Abstract
BackgroundThis paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the TwoStep cluster analysis and the development and first results of a new questionnaire for measuring comfort, health, and energy habits. The justification for the questionnaire is to consolidate into one instrument questions of six specific domains about occupants' energy consumption patterns, from the behavioural and psychological perspectives. MethodsThe questionnaire was developed from a literature review, iterative conceptualization, and testing. The resulting instrument was administered to a sample of home occupants, comprising of bachelor students of Architecture of the Delft University of Technology. The objective of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the TwoStep cluster analysis to produce occupant profiles. 316 emails were sent out inviting participants to complete the questionnaire. ResultsWith the TwoStep cluster analysis, it was possible to distinguish six different archetypes of occupants based on their behavioural characteristics. These were the Relaxed Optimists, Unconcerned Indifferents, Restrained Sensitives, Positive Absolutists, Incautious Negativistics, and Resigned Savers. ConclusionThe results provide promising evidence of the questionnaire's potential to distinguish different occupant energy consumption profiles based on distinct psychosocial domains in a single and concise instrument, while also showing that the analysis method is appropriate for the type of variables gathered. The value of recognizing these profiles allows for a better understanding of occupants' differing energy consumption patterns in their homes and tailoring interventions to their specific needs.
Highlights
To ensure a future with lower energy consumption, there is the need to address both technologies and human behaviour
The TwoStep cluster analysis produced a final solution of six clusters, with a total of 25 segmentation variables, with 193 respondents: 30 respondents were automatically excluded from the analysis by the TwoStep Cluster process, due to missing data
It can be said that the findings of this study show that the method of analysis seems to fit the purpose of this study, which is to provide evidence that the TwoStep cluster analysis method is an appropriate technique to use with the chosen constructs and items constituting the questionnaire
Summary
The aim of this study was to 1) develop a questionnaire that enables the understanding of psychobehavioral constructs of occupants in terms of interactions with energy consuming technologies in the home context and 2) to determine whether it is possible to define homogenous groups based on the respondents' attitudes towards. Admiration (1.00) Satisfaction (0.89) Shame (0.88) Dissatisfaction (0.88) Internal control – freedom action (0.83) Joy (0.73) Attitudes – water heating (0.69) Affordance – Freedom of expression (0.69) Internal control – Personalization (0.61) Pride (0.60) Boredom (0.59) Affordance – Spatial quality (0.57) External control – Climate (0.48) Affordance – Cleanliness (0.46) Disgust (0.43) Attitudes – behaviour change (0.40). Conclusion: The results provide promising evidence of the questionnaire's potential to distinguish different occupant energy consumption profiles based on distinct psychosocial domains in a single and concise instrument, while showing that the analysis method is appropriate for the type of variables gathered. The value of recognizing these profiles allows for a better understanding of occupants' differing energy consumption patterns in their homes and tailoring interventions to their specific needs
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