Energy Conservation in University Buildings

Electricity conservation programs were implemented in spring 1977 infourmatchedpairs of University of Colorado office-classroom-laboratory buildings and three pairs ofdormi tories. Reductions in electricity use were significantly greater in 13 of the 14 experimental buildings than in the two control buildings. These results are supported by the results of direct observations of waste (lights in unoccupied rooms) in experimental and control buildings. The methodological problems of predicting consumption levels, interpreting why changes in consumption occurred, and estimating initial waste levels are discussed along with their implications for the conduct of behavioral research on energy conserva tion.