Delivering a More Effective Model for Energy Conservation
Residential development owners and property managers have long sought ways to cut energy expenses and implement green solutions, ideally with the participation and interest of residents themselves. The team at Balfour Beatty Energy Solutions, LLC (Balfour Beatty Energy) has studied this problem for years and implemented numerous cost-saving, sustainable programs for organizations representing a variety of residential property types across the country.
The bottom line, we’ve found, is tied not just to the homes themselves but also to the behavior of residents. Our innovative “three-legged” strategy addresses technology, behavior and boundaries, where boundaries are social and policy norms that define the energy use context (in other words, boundaries keep us “in-bounds”). This tool provides owners and managers the opportunity to invest in energy upgrades with reduced financial risks.
Meanwhile, residents can lower energy costs and all parties are able to realize the benefits of environmentally friendly solutions.
Green Homes Are Just the Beginning
Green development and efficiency improvements for existing homes offer improved market valuation and reduced natural resource consumption. Since the 20%.
Most green retrofits are done to increase long-term investment value and sustainability. By leveraging attributes found in widely adopted programs such as: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes (LEED-H) through the U.S. Green Building Council, ANSI’s National Green Building Standard, adopted by the National Association of Home Builders, or Energy Star through the Department of Energy, property appraisals will benefit. These programs offer guiding principles and provide a source of independent validation for the built environment. Improved design and physical attributes, however, represent only the “technology” of the homes themselves.
Technology is one of three attributes needed to maximize home energy conservation. Occupant behavior and boundaries (both social and regulatory) also have a considerable impact on emissions reduction. We have been unable to locate studies that incorporate technology, behavior and boundaries simultaneously, because although there is significant focus on energy efficiency and green building technologies, there are only a handful of researchers investigating resident behavior as it relates to energy conservation.
Read full article Encyclopedia of Energy Engineering & Technology (EEE), Co-Authored by Richard Lucy (CPA, CEM), 2009. “The 3 Legged Stool Strategy: Optimizing Energy Savings”. PDF