Occupants’ perceptions and responses to energy use and indoor climate from the newly occupied passive houses in Norway: a questionnaire survey

Abstract

This study aims to improve our knowledge about interactions between occupant behaviour and building systems. Individual occupant perceptions and responses to energy use and indoor climate were investigated by way of a case study. Twenty nine occupied passive houses in a newly built neighbourhood were studied, comprising 14 detached houses and 15 terraced houses. Energy use data were collected by recording monthly bills, and a questionnaire survey with fifty-five questions was conducted. More than half of targeted residents were unsatisfied with energy savings in spite of paying only slightly higher annual energy bills than that forecast under the Norwegian standard for passive house design. Further results indicated that the low energy technologies applied in the passive houses achieved a good satisfaction of perceived indoor climate with a few exceptions. Main negative perceptions were overly warm indoor summer temperatures, and problems with daylight and humidity indoors. Responses were discussed in relation to improving energy-efficiency consciousness of occupants.