Continue the Old Energize Worcester Projects

Continuing in the same direction as previous Energize Worcester projects would help to maintain the ongoing research efforts started by these prior project teams. By returning to the unmodified questionnaire and conducting bulk interviews on various HMOs, the future project teams would contribute to the existing database of survey responses. This database has extensive information on the attitudes of Worcester HMO residents as they relate to energy use.

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5.3 Conclusion

After further analyzing the perceived behavior of the students and comparing it to the actual behavior, it seems that the students are correct in some cases, but completely inaccurate in other instances. There are many factors that affect the actual behavioral data, which makes it hard to conclude what is exactly causing the problem.

Something as simple as whether they decided to cook one day will throw off the data with such a small sample size. If heat from the oven caused the entire house to warm, the heater would not have to work as hard to maintain the constant temperature of the home. From our end, with the boiler data, it will look like the residents are being more efficient, when in reality it had nothing to do with the boiler and everything to do with the inconsistent actions of the tenants in their small homes.

In conclusion, very specific factors are being put into play when trying to accurately compare the perceived data of the students to the actual information from the smart data loggers. Our data that we acquired from the students was not sufficient enough to depict a conclusion from the data of the smart heating loggers because of all of the external factors stated before; more research must be conducted on this subject.

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References

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Appendix A - Interview Questions

Shown below are the set of interview questions used to gain an understanding of students perceived energy use habits. Most of these questions were adapted from previous energize questionnaire questions and the Worcester Wave questions provided by Carolyn Roberts. General Instructions

Please utilise this questionnaire as a basis for a discussion, and capture the results of the discussion on a digital recording, in addition to completing all the questions below. Interview respondents separately, not in groups. Reassure the respondent that their identity will be protected, that if they do not wish to answer any or all questions, they are free to do that, but that their assistance would help the researchers to identify key aspects of the influences on people’s ability to manage their household energy consumption successfully. Non-participation would have no influence on their university studies, and nor will information be shared with anyone else, including their landlord. The findings of the research may enable participants to be more comfortable in their houses, and to spend less on energy.

DETAILS OF PROPERTY (can be completed mainly by the interviewer) 1. Address

2. Number of bedrooms in property

3. Number of other rooms including kitchen, but not conservatory, bathrooms or hallways 4. Number of storeys, including (part) basement if used as a living area

GENERAL DETAILS ABOUT RESPONDENT