Profiling Space Heating Behavior in Chilean Social Housing: Towards Personalization of Energy Efficiency Measures

Victor Bunster and Masa Noguchi
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Victor Bunster: EDBI Research Group, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
Masa Noguchi: EDBI Research Group, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia

Sustainability, 2015, vol. 7, issue 6, 1-24

Abstract: Global increases in the demand for energy are imposing strong pressures over the environment while compromising the capacity of emerging economies to achieve sustainable development. In this context, implementation of effective strategies to reduce consumption in residential buildings has become a priority concern for policy makers as minor changes at the household scale can result in major energy savings. This study aims to contribute to ongoing research on energy consumer profiling by exploring the forecasting capabilities of discrete socio-economic factors that are accessible through social housing allocation systems. Accordingly, survey data gathered by the Chilean Ministry of Social Development was used identify key characteristics that may predict firewood usage for space heating purposes among potential beneficiaries of the Chilean social housing program. The analyzed data evidences strong correlations between general household characteristics and space heating behavior in certain climatic zones, suggesting that personalized delivery of energy efficiency measures can potentially increase the effectiveness of initiatives aimed towards the reduction of current patterns of consumption.

Keywords: operational energy; energy efficiency; profiling; social housing; space heating; Chile (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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