Human Factors in Domestic Gas Consumption in South-East England, 1981-1985

<P>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</P><br>(a) The investigation of social and human factors, which would enable the prediction of changes in domestic gas consumption;<br>
(b) the assessment of the significance of heating controls for energy consumption (and change of energy consumption) and satisfaction with heating systems;<br>
(c) field validation of Fanger's biophysical theory of thermal comfort in domestic environments;<br>
(d) evaluation of the Fishbein model as an explanatory device for the relationship between attitudes and intentions to energy conservation.<br><B>Main Topics</B>:<BR><br>Variables<br>
Heating and ventilation practices; expectations and intentions with regard to current gas consumption, heating practices, economy measures and improvements in insulation level, and changes made during survey ; beliefs, attitudes and knowledge with regard to household energy related matters ; thermal comfort and indoor climate conditions ; household structure and socio-demographic details ; physical details of the house ; quarterly gas meter readings<br>
Measurement Scales<br>
ASHRAE Thermal Sensation Scale. Some scales of attitudes were taken from Seligman, D. et al, 'Predicting summer energy consumption from home owners attitudes', &lt;i&gt;Journal of Applied Social Psychology&lt;/i&gt;, 9, 1979, pp. 70-90. Some questions on structure and fabric of the houses were derived from Open University and Building Research Establishment, &lt;i&gt;Check your energy : personal home survey&lt;/i&gt;, 1983.