Transportation Energy Consumption and Assessment of Energy Conservation Measures in German Private Households

The present paper shows an empirical study into energy consumption and conservation possibilities in private households. The focus is particularly on transportation, while findings on the domestic domains, heating and electrical appliances create an overall picture. A multistage household survey was applied to collect the energy-related data of the respondents at first, which was used to determine the current energy consumption and suitable energy conservation measures. The respondents were informed about their results in an energy consultation. Afterwards they were asked to assess the suggested measures. 712 households participated in the first stage. 6,013 measures were suggested of which about two thirds were assessed in the second stage of the survey. The average annual final energy consumption of a respondent amounts to 36 MWh, of which 41% are allotted to transportation. The suggested measures could reduce the transport energy consumption by 26% dominated by a reduction of plane rides. Measures concerning transportation are rated lower and less likely to be implemented than measures in the domestic domains. Loss of comfort is the main reason against an implementation. Showing obstacles to energy conservation in private households, the author hopes to contribute to future research and decisions on political instruments.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADC70 Standing Committee on Transportation Energy.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Schmaus, Matthias
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2016-1-10 to 2016-1-14
• Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 18p
• Monograph Title: TRB 95th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Comfort; Energy conservation; Energy consumption; Environmental protection; Households
• Geographic Terms: Germany
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Transportation (General); I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01592062
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 16-2204
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 29 2016 4:55PM