HOUSE CHARACTERISTICS AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ENERGY-CONSERVATION MEASURES

Many communities are engaged in residential energy conservation progra ms. However, there is little documentation on how the effectiveness of such conservation programs varies with the structural characteristics of the houses. In Phoenix, Arizona, where peak energy use occurs duri ng the summer, we found that the savings levels from common energy con servation measures vary greatly, depending on the window characteristi cs of the house and the type of cooling technology used. To maximize t he savings from residential energy conservation programs, planners sho uld target those houses whose structural characteristics indicate that the energy and power savings would be greatest.