Comparison of Air Condition Usage Environmental Performance among Different Household Types: A Study in Jiangsu, China

Abstract

In residential buildings, air condition usage consumes considerable energy and bring serious damages to environment. The occupant use behaviors of air condition is driven by various factors, and the correlations between driving factors and related environmental damages are not well quantified. This paper combines questionnaire survey, energy simulation, and environmental impacts (EIs) assessment to develop a new model. Then, a large sample questionnaire survey is conducted in Jiangsu, China, and collected samples are classified into many household types according to their household sizes and age compositions. The EIs of air condition usage of different household types in a typical year are assessed by using the model established. Comparison results show that different household types have various environmental performances. Households with large size, elderly and children have high EIs. The newly-established model is demonstrated operable and could build a bridge between behaviors’ driving factors and air condition usage environmental performance.

Keywords: air condition, environmental impact assessment, household type, energy simulation, occupant behaviors