Young urban households in Shanghai, China: Characteristics of energy use and attitudes

Abstract

Current domestic energy saving policies are mainly focused on building fabrics and domestic appliances, with less attention to address occupants’ energy use behaviour and their attitudes towards potential policies. This study aims to address the gap in understanding domestic energy use through a survey in Shanghai, which focuses on the characteristics of energy use in urban households, the demographics of high energy consumers, and attitudes towards energy saving and smart meters. The survey results reveal a great variety within the target group of urban young households, with the average annual power density value of 10.9 kW h/m2/occupancy, between 2.0 to 35.7 kW h/m2/occupancy, varying by a factor of about 17.8. Intensive energy use results from stricter comfort standards and longer heating and cooling periods. For the targeted high energy consumers, real-time electricity pricing is suggested as an effective policy instrument. The respondents are more likely to agree with policy instruments of fiscal incentives and communication, rather than consumption or price control. The overall research results could be used by policy-makers in the design of energy saving policies relating to smart meters and contribute to the development of a more sustainable city in China.