GENJO KAHORI

In order to make clear energy consumption of the elderly couple households and the effect of energy-saving lifestyle on energy consumption, measurement of energy consumption and indoor thermal environment of two elderly couple households throughout a year and experiments on lifestyle changes for energy conservation were carried out. In the experiment, energy-saving lifestyle plans was indicated to each occupant, and a questionnaire survey was conducted regarding the frequency of action for implementing energy-saving measures in winter, spring and summer. The consequent energy savings of these lifestyle changes were analyzed. The results were as follows. (1) Total energy consumptions for the two elderly couple households were 45GJ/year and 20% less than those in a reference, because the occupants usually follow an energy-saving lifestyle. However, it can be generally said that the quality of the indoor thermal environment for the elderly couple households is not necessarily good. (2) The energy consumption during the energy-saving week decreased 13%, 7% for each house in winter in comparison with the week before adopting an energy-saving lifestyle. (3) Effective plans on lifestyle changes for energy conservation in the two surveyed households were shown from the experiments.