Why Education and User Feedback Won’t Close the Performance Gap for University Accommodation

Aaron Gillich, Andy Ford

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

    Abstract

    It’s often correctly stated that making buildings work requires an educated and engaged end user. This paper presents results from a study of user feedback in student accommodation. Students that volunteered their energy meter readings used 20% less energy than non-participants. However, this did not change before, during, or after the period of enhanced education and feedback. Furthermore, among those that stated higher awareness of energy issues throughout the study, there were no changes in their energy use habits. While it is no doubt true that education and feedback are useful in addressing the performance gap, this research finds two fundamental challenges to implementing such strategies: 1) most feedback is preaching to the converted, and 2) education does not necessarily correspond to action.
    Original languageEnglish
    Publication statusPublished - 16 Apr 2015
    EventCIBSE Technical Symposium 2019 - University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
    Duration: 25 Apr 201926 Apr 2019

    Conference

    ConferenceCIBSE Technical Symposium 2019
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    CitySheffield
    Period25/04/1926/04/19
    OtherThe 9th annual CIBSE Technical Symposium, “Transforming Built Environments - driving change with engineering” took place at the University of Sheffield from 25-26 April 2019.
    The 2019 symposium provided an opportunity to examine and share research, development and applications that will drive change in the regulation, creation and maintenance of the built environment as well as evidence where there are still clear opportunities to benefit from established practices.

    Keywords

    • social norms
    • education
    • student accommodation
    • feedback
    • behaviour

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