2. First response for energy consumption – kitchen appliances Always keeps can opener and toaster plugged in Culture in the home: Turn off lights when leaving a room – have to instruct children to do so Try to keep windows open before using the AC During winter, they keep the house a bit warmer because of children (72 degrees during the day, 68 when people are in bed) Automated thermostat Heat spreads evenly throughout the house. Warmer in kitchen because of oven. “As we grow older, we have a better understanding to conserve energy” Replaced light bulbs with energy efficient one. “… Cause we just moved in, our bill seems higher” What I saw Sheila Rader
3. Renting house Energy for air conditioning & heating, powering appliances (“dishwasher & stuff”) To conserve energy they usually turn the thermostat down and turn off lights. Open blinds for sunlight. “Is difficult to monitor everything when your other roommate leaves everything on” Fan and porch light were on since last night. Realized when talking about energy “If the kitchen light is on and I’m already upstairs, probably won’t come down to turn it off” “it would be cool to have something to read the wattage used in everything and control stuff from there” The windows don’t conserve any energy. What I saw Scott Wayland & Jerry Wang
4. Thermostat control very accessible “High ceilings” Previous house was very “drafty” and they had to “redo everyday cause you lost the heat easily” “Back home, my dad was in charge of controlling the energy” Scotts parent’s house – digital read thermostat What I saw Scott Wayland & Jerry Wang
5. Keep the temperature reasonably low during the winter Assemble in the living room and use fireplace/heater Usually colder in the kitchen downstairs (next to sliding doors to garden)and bedroom Turn off lights in rooms not in use Open windows during the summer Usually Clair is the one who regulates the temperature What I saw Patti & Clair Habluetzel
6. Energy as electricity & gas Automated system controlled by dad 2 floors + attic + basement 2 years ago replaced windows Conservation of heat Tax breaks Lights off if not in use, open windows and open blinds if sunny. “We usually try to keep the system off as much as possible” Attic – outside temp. Basement – cool all year During winter, the house usually stay cold during the day but bump up 3 to 4 degrees at night Use of space heaters when in a room “for your feet” because of “cheaper electricity”. Don’t want gas bill to go up. What I saw Sean Miller
7. Conservation of energy - repeated concepts Turn off lights when leaving a room Open blinds for sunlight Turn thermostat down Open windows Tax breaks for installing heat conservation windows See energy as heating & cooling and powering appliances Keep home warmer if younger children are present. Use of space heaters vs. general heater. Gas vs. Electricity In a family home, usually one person is given the task of regulating temperature In a roommate situation, the drive to conserve energy varies between roommates What I learned
8. Same energy conservation principles learned According to interviewees, higher correlation between heat regulation/lighting and cost Power for appliances are not generally taken in consideration Roommate home – cohabitation of different units Family home – (generally) members as a single unit. Localized heating (family home – assemble in a room) vs. general heating Appliances as source of heat What it means
9. Major Accessibility/Control over energy consumption in the home. Ex. Turn off light from a distant location Cut power in a room. Display the total amount of energy consumed progressively, over a period of time and by each appliance /function Localized heating What I can do
