End-Users’ Perceptions and Behaviours Regarding Energy Issues
In order to exploit the full potential of reducing energy use in society, we need to broaden the perspective and complement technology development with studies of needs and behaviours of end-users. SP is already running projects regarding energy-related behaviour of domestic users, customers’ perceptions of energy efficiency measures in supermarkets and heat pump owners’ experiences of their installations.
Additional, highly interesting and important working areas include the interaction between energy-saving solutions and end users, the visual realisation of energy use in order to encourage energy-saving behaviour, and the involvement of occupants in building projects.
These kinds of studies are of interdisciplinary nature, and SP works closely with researchers in the social science field in order to combine “hard” and “soft” measurements to gain a more complete picture. The projects result in increased knowledge and understanding of human needs, experiences and their acceptance of (new) technologies. This can be used as an input for decision-making concerning implementation and development of energy-efficient technology.