Study on energy conservation in experimental facilities by changing users’ behavior

Abstract

In 2021, Japan announced its aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46% in FY2030 than in FY2013, and universities were expected to contribute to the conservation of energy. The current study focused on ventilation systems in laboratories, which are among the most energy-intensive areas in universities, with the aim of reducing overall electricity consumption. The amount of electricity consumed by the draft chamber in a laboratory was determined based on the chamber opening. Result confirmed that the amount of electricity consumed by the 12 draft chambers to be 63,263 kWh/year. Using the relationship between chamber opening degree and power consumption by air conditioners and exhaust fans, we implemented a method to induce users of the draft chamber to take action toward controlling the chamber opening degree, using real-time information on chamber opening degree. A screen was set up to provide information to draft-chamber users in the laboratory using real-time monitors, and the induction of behavior was investigated over a 5-week period. Results confirmed that information displayed on the tablet device indeed reduced the chamber opening, the reduction rate being 21–48% compared to that before the information was displayed.