Trotta 2018). Thus, changing occupants’ behavior by providing energy-saving education can reduce more than 10%
of electricity consumption (Ouyang and Hokao 2009).
2.4 Studies on Nationals’ Behavior Towards
Energy Consumption
In addition to establishing Estidama & Pearl Rating System
(PRS), which are the local sustainability framework, codes,
and building energy efficiency standards. There is a clear
indication that understanding occupants’ high-energy usage
has been recognized as needed information. The target of
this study is to explain the reason behind the high-energy
usage of national’s occupants while they only represent only
11.4% of the total population of the UAE.
The Regulation and Supervision Bureau of Abu Dhabi
have addressed occupants’ behavior towards energy consumption in a recent study (Alaileh et al. 2013). It is an
independent regulatory department aiming to increase the
understanding and awareness of critical issues on energy
usage in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The undertaken study
explored the potential of electricity consumption saving
programs involving householders, while the aspect of provision of information and examine the use of technology
seems to increase awareness through installing Customer
Display Units (CDU) in the pilot study volunteer’s villas and
the results shows that 16.3% reduction in demand response
due to education and information, and 16.8% reduction due
to conservation practices.
3 Research Method and Data Collection
This exploratory qualitative study aims to detect and highlight the UAE nationals’ energy behavior and understand
their way of life related to energy usage in their individual
villas (villa) in the city of Al Ain (Abu Dhabi Emirate). The
main objective is to conceptualize the problem variables and
define the main dimensions and indicators influencing
occupants’ energy behavior in their daily life ahead of a
wider study. The methodology used is based on
semi-structured; open-ended in-depth interviews addressing
the main investigation questions. Four main themes were
explored including space usage, quest for comfort, energy
practices, and awareness of energy usage.
The pilot study was conducted during the summer of
2016. Four representative villas occupied by Emiratis families were the targets of this pilot study (Fig. 5).
Further, data collection included the household and
general demographic and villa characteristics, such as the
house area, number of occupants, and average annual electricity consumption (Table 1). The second is to develop the
villas’ energy performance indexes (consumption per area
and consumption per capita).
The review of related literature indicates a strong positive
correlation between house sizes and energy consumption.
Larger dwellings consume more energy than smaller ones
(Santin et al. 2009). The number of occupants has also a
relation with Electricity consumption, as the number of
occupants increases, space occupation and appliances usage
increases thus electricity consumption increases as well.
Energy performance indexes (consumption per area and
consumption per capita) reveal the same tendency in the
considered sample as shown in Fig. 6.
Next, interviews were carried out with the aim to identify
compliance with the identified themes in the literature while
highlighting specific contextual factors. The sub-themes
explored relate to 1. Energy usage practices, and the use of
appliances during the occupation. 2. Quest for comfort and
adaptation; questions about how to achieve comfort during
“overheated periods” summer and winter seasons were
investigated 3. Space usage and relation between space
function and energy consumption were explored and 4.
Awareness of energy usage, and house electricity consumption information.
4 Study Results and Discussion
Interviews were carried with wife/mother, in their houses
starting with general demographic questions such as the
number of occupants, age, occupant’s level of education, and
professional activities of the family heads. The interview
took an average of one hour and thirty-minute. A brief
introduction was given while ethical consent forms were
signed. The main outcomes as related to the themes explored
can be summarized as follows:
(1) Occupants space usage: In all four cases, the occupants’
categorized their homes based on their daily usage and
function. Questions such as, where they gather on a
regular basis as well as on occasional ones (such as
Fridays and celebrations), what spaces are usually
occupied and which spatial quality impact their personal comfort constricted the core of this theme. All
considered the living room as the most important space
in the house. It is the place where all family members
gather all day long. The main characteristics of using
the living room effectively are the location of the living
room and the provisions. Absence or undefined living
room makes family members use most of the spaces
like a living room as it was observed in H1 and H4.
(2) House design satisfaction: House design should always
meet the family’s needs in terms of function and size. In
terms of villa size and number of rooms, a weak
128
A. A. Ameri and K. T. Aoul
of electricity consumption (Ouyang and Hokao 2009).
2.4 Studies on Nationals’ Behavior Towards
Energy Consumption
In addition to establishing Estidama & Pearl Rating System
(PRS), which are the local sustainability framework, codes,
and building energy efficiency standards. There is a clear
indication that understanding occupants’ high-energy usage
has been recognized as needed information. The target of
this study is to explain the reason behind the high-energy
usage of national’s occupants while they only represent only
11.4% of the total population of the UAE.
The Regulation and Supervision Bureau of Abu Dhabi
have addressed occupants’ behavior towards energy consumption in a recent study (Alaileh et al. 2013). It is an
independent regulatory department aiming to increase the
understanding and awareness of critical issues on energy
usage in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The undertaken study
explored the potential of electricity consumption saving
programs involving householders, while the aspect of provision of information and examine the use of technology
seems to increase awareness through installing Customer
Display Units (CDU) in the pilot study volunteer’s villas and
the results shows that 16.3% reduction in demand response
due to education and information, and 16.8% reduction due
to conservation practices.
3 Research Method and Data Collection
This exploratory qualitative study aims to detect and highlight the UAE nationals’ energy behavior and understand
their way of life related to energy usage in their individual
villas (villa) in the city of Al Ain (Abu Dhabi Emirate). The
main objective is to conceptualize the problem variables and
define the main dimensions and indicators influencing
occupants’ energy behavior in their daily life ahead of a
wider study. The methodology used is based on
semi-structured; open-ended in-depth interviews addressing
the main investigation questions. Four main themes were
explored including space usage, quest for comfort, energy
practices, and awareness of energy usage.
The pilot study was conducted during the summer of
2016. Four representative villas occupied by Emiratis families were the targets of this pilot study (Fig. 5).
Further, data collection included the household and
general demographic and villa characteristics, such as the
house area, number of occupants, and average annual electricity consumption (Table 1). The second is to develop the
villas’ energy performance indexes (consumption per area
and consumption per capita).
The review of related literature indicates a strong positive
correlation between house sizes and energy consumption.
Larger dwellings consume more energy than smaller ones
(Santin et al. 2009). The number of occupants has also a
relation with Electricity consumption, as the number of
occupants increases, space occupation and appliances usage
increases thus electricity consumption increases as well.
Energy performance indexes (consumption per area and
consumption per capita) reveal the same tendency in the
considered sample as shown in Fig. 6.
Next, interviews were carried out with the aim to identify
compliance with the identified themes in the literature while
highlighting specific contextual factors. The sub-themes
explored relate to 1. Energy usage practices, and the use of
appliances during the occupation. 2. Quest for comfort and
adaptation; questions about how to achieve comfort during
“overheated periods” summer and winter seasons were
investigated 3. Space usage and relation between space
function and energy consumption were explored and 4.
Awareness of energy usage, and house electricity consumption information.
4 Study Results and Discussion
Interviews were carried with wife/mother, in their houses
starting with general demographic questions such as the
number of occupants, age, occupant’s level of education, and
professional activities of the family heads. The interview
took an average of one hour and thirty-minute. A brief
introduction was given while ethical consent forms were
signed. The main outcomes as related to the themes explored
can be summarized as follows:
(1) Occupants space usage: In all four cases, the occupants’
categorized their homes based on their daily usage and
function. Questions such as, where they gather on a
regular basis as well as on occasional ones (such as
Fridays and celebrations), what spaces are usually
occupied and which spatial quality impact their personal comfort constricted the core of this theme. All
considered the living room as the most important space
in the house. It is the place where all family members
gather all day long. The main characteristics of using
the living room effectively are the location of the living
room and the provisions. Absence or undefined living
room makes family members use most of the spaces
like a living room as it was observed in H1 and H4.
(2) House design satisfaction: House design should always
meet the family’s needs in terms of function and size. In
terms of villa size and number of rooms, a weak
128
A. A. Ameri and K. T. Aoul