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Thermostat wars? The roles of gender and thermal comfort negotiations in household energy use behavior

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  • Nicole D Sintov
  • Lee V White
  • Hugh Walpole

Abstract

Although advanced thermostat technologies offer energy efficiency potential, these devices alone do not guarantee savings. Household occupants often deviate from thermostat programs, perhaps due to differing thermal comfort preferences, which are strong drivers of residential energy use and vary across genders. This study aims to develop an initial typology of interpersonal interactions around thermal comfort, explore the role of gender in such interactions, and examine the impacts of interactions on thermostat adjustments. Using n = 1568 diary observations collected from 112 participants, we identify three interaction types: conflicts, compromises, and agreements. Fixed effects analyses find that women are marginally more likely to report engaging in conflicts, whereas men are significantly more likely to report engaging in agreements and compromises, both of which are associated with greater likelihood of adjusting thermostats within a given day. This work represents an early step in investigating the multiply determined nature of household energy decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicole D Sintov & Lee V White & Hugh Walpole, 2019. "Thermostat wars? The roles of gender and thermal comfort negotiations in household energy use behavior," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0224198
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224198
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Sanchez, Marla C. & Brown, Richard E. & Webber, Carrie & Homan, Gregory K., 2008. "Savings estimates for the United States Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR voluntary product labeling program," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 2098-2108, June.
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    1. Matschegg, Doris & Carlon, Elisa & Sturmlechner, Rita & Sonnleitner, Andrea & Fuhrmann, Marilene & Dißauer, Christa & Strasser, Christoph & Enigl, Monika, 2023. "Investigation of individual motives and decision paths on residential energy supply systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).

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