Prioritizing Smart System Management Of Energy-Related Occupant Behaviors In Code Compliant And High Performance Single-Family Homes In North Carolina

While residential building practices over the last couple of decades have been improving in the areas of technical performance and energy efficiency, much less attention has been focused on homeowner lifestyle and behavior. These neglected factors can have a significant impact on home energy performance, and may be more pronounced when green building practices are employed. This study establishes a method for systematically prioritizing management of occupant behaviors that impact energy consumption in a home. It also allows further differentiation regarding which behaviors are most applicable to manage using smart home automation technologies. The tables developed in this paper summarize characteristics of energy-related occupant behaviors. They are user-friendly enough to be utilized by homeowners to assess potential home improvement options. The methodology used to establish characteristics for individual behaviors is laid out in a modular and transparent fashion, which allows members of the building industry to replace any data they wish with their own values. Furthermore, other behaviors of interest can be easily evaluated using this methodology and added to the table using the same system. In this manner, results of this study can be used as an adaptable and continuously growing tool for both homeowners and industry professionals.