Smart Thermostats
Opportunities for Energy Savings
Jackie Berger
HPC National Home Performance Conference
March 21, 2017
Overview
Research Motivation
Survey Methodology
Demographic Characteristics
Current Thermostat Characteristics
Thermostat Programming Behavior
Thermostat Setback Behavior
Potential Smart Thermostat Use
2
RESEARCH MOTIVATION
3
Research Motivation
Interest in “Smart
Home”
Smart thermostats
are becoming more
common in utility
energy efficiency
offerings
ACEEE review
found savings of
8%-15% of heating
and cooling usage
4
Research Motivation
Hypothesis: • Type of thermostat in use
savings
• Programmable
from Smart
• Manual
Thermostats • Setback practices
will be
• Demographics – elderly or
less technology advanced
affected by
5
Research Motivation
Which households
will benefit from
smart
thermostats?
What are the
savings
opportunities?
6
Research Motivation
What is the smart thermostat penetration rate?
Do smart thermostat owners use remote features?
What is the programmable thermostat penetration rate?
Are programmable thermostats programmed for setback
when away or asleep?
Do manual thermostat owners consistently practice manual
setback?
What is the predicted use of smart thermostats?
7
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
8
Methodology
• APPRISE partnered with two natural gas
utilities in the northeast
• Each utility randomly selected residential
customers
• Advance letter sent to 1,600 customers
• Surveys conducted from January-March 2016
9
Methodology
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
Completes
217
168
385
Cooperation Rate
50%
46%
48%
Response Rate
30%
27%
29%
10
DEMOGRAPHIC
CHARACTERISTICS
11
Home Ownership
Own
Rent
100%
90%
87%
80%
80%
71%
70%
60%
50%
40%
29%
30%
20%
19%
12%
10%
0%
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
12
Heating Fuel
Gas
100%
96%
Electric
Other
94%
90%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
1% 3%
4% 6%
2% 4%
0%
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
13
Computer Use
Multiple Times a Day Once a Day
Once a Week
Less Frequently
100%
90%
80%
70%
63%
56%
60%
48%
50%
40%
32%
30%
20%
10%
15%
20%
10% 11%
14%
13%
6%
8%
0%
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
14
Wi-Fi and Smart Phone
Wi-Fi
Smart Phone
Both
100%
90%
80%
82% 80%
76%
78% 80%
81% 80%
73%
74%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
15
Technology by Income Level
Use Computer 1+/Day
100%
93%
84%
90%
80%
Smart Phone
92%
97% 98%
84%
67% 69%
70%
60%
Wi-Fi
51%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
<$50,000
$50,000-$100,000
>$100,000
ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME
16
Setback Opportunity
Home Regularly Unoccupied
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
63%
57%
53%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
17
CURRENT THERMOSTAT
CHARACTERISTICS
18
Number of Thermostats
One
100%
Two
Three or More
92%
90%
80%
82%
75%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
15%
9%
5% 2%
11%
6%
0%
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
19
Same Thermostat
Controls Air Conditioning
100%
90%
80%
80%
70%
62%
60%
50%
40%
30%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
20
Programmable Thermostat
And Remote Sensor
Programmable Thermostat
Remote Sensor
100%
90%
80%
70%
67%
56%
60%
50%
42%
40%
30%
20%
10%
3%
3%
Utility 1
Utility 2
3%
0%
Total
21
Programmable Thermostat
By Income
100%
90%
80%
72%
70%
62%
60%
50%
40%
39%
30%
20%
10%
0%
<$50,000
$50,000-$100,000
>$100,000
ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME
22
Smart Thermostat Features
Wi-Fi Connected
Humidity/Weather Sensing
Learns Preferences & Senses Occupancy
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
5% 7% 3%
2%
7%
2%
4% 7% 3%
0%
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
23
Thermostat Type
Manual
Programmable/ No Smart Features
Programmable/ Smart Features
100%
90%
80%
70%
62%
58%
60%
51%
50%
40%
44%
38%
33%
30%
20%
10%
6%
5%
4%
0%
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
24
Satisfaction with
Current Thermostat
Very Satisfied
Somewhat Satisfied
Very or Somewhat Dissatisfied
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
54%
40%
50%
45%
50%
39%
35%
37%
30%
20%
10%
10%
14%
12%
0%
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
25
THERMOSTAT
PROGRAMMING BEHAVIORS
26
Thermostat is Programmed
With Programmable Thermostat
All
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
53%
49%
50%
33%
30%
22%
28%
20%
10%
0%
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
27
Thermostat is Programmed
By Income
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
47%
50%
40%
27%
30%
20%
17%
10%
0%
<$50,000
$50,000-$100,000
>$100,000
ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME
28
Manually Adjust Thermostat
At Least Once per Week
Once per Day or More
Once per Week
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
38%
40%
30%
33%
31%
21%
20%
18%
11%
10%
0%
Utility 1
Utility 2
Total
Includes those whose thermostat is programmed.
29
THERMOSTAT SETBACK
BEHAVIORS
30
Heating Setback
Do you adjust the heat to a cooler temperature…
 When everyone is asleep at night in the winter?
 During the day if everyone is at work or school in the winter?
Manual
Programmable
Not Programmed
Programmed
Programmable
Total
Observations
169
108
108
385
Night
54%
60%
95%
67%
Away from Home
53%
49%
83%
61%
31
Heating Setbacks
By Income
At Night
Away from Home
100%
90%
77%
80%
66%
70%
60%
56%
66%
72%
53%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
<$50,000
$50,000-$100,000
>$100,000
32
Cooling Setback
Do you adjust the air conditioning to a warmer temperature…
 When everyone is asleep at night in the summer?
 During the day if everyone is at work or school in the summer?
Manual
Programmable
Not Programmed
Programmed
Programmable
Total
53
76
68
197
Night
53%
37%
69%
52%
Away from Home
60%
39%
79%
59%
Observations
Includes those whose thermostat also controls air conditioning.
33
Cooling Setbacks
By Income
At Night
Away from Home
100%
90%
80%
70%
70%
62%
63%
60%
50%
45%
48%
46%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
<$50,000
$50,000-$100,000
>$100,000
34
POTENTIAL SMART
THERMOSTAT USE
35
Predicted Frequency
Remote Temperature Change
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
18%
20%
10%
7%
12%
9%
0%
More than Once
Per Day
Every Day
Every Week
Every Month
36
Predicted Frequency
Remote Temperature Change
At Least Once Per Day
Once Per Week
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
25%
15%
21%
23%
27%
24%
10%
0%
<$50,000
$50,000-$100,000
>$100,000
37
Reasons for
Remote Temperature Change
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
22%
19%
9%
9%
6%
4%
Weather Away from Increase
Temp
On the Forget to
Home
Comfort Change in Way Home Adjust
from
Schedule
Temp
Another
Before
Room
Leave
Home
38
SUMMARY AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
39
Demographics
Technological Aptitude
• 70% use computers once or more pre day
Existing Equipment
• 74% had both wi-fi and smart phone/tablet
Behaviors
• 57% had regular times of day when no one was home
• But several had pets in the home at all times
40
Current Thermostat
Manual Thermostat
• 44% had a manual thermostat
Smart Features
• 5% had smart features
Thermostat Satisfaction
• 37% only somewhat satisfied with current thermostat
• 12% somewhat or very dissatisfied
41
Smart Thermostat Potential
Programmed Thermostat
• 28% had a thermostat that is currently programmed
Setbacks
• 95% with programmed thermostat set heat back at night
• 56% with manual or unprogrammed thermostat set heat back
at night
Potential Smart Thermostat Use
• 19% said they would remotely change temp at least 1/day
• 37% said they would remotely change temp at least 1/week
42
Low-Income Potential
Programmable Thermostat
• 17% with income <$50,000 had thermostat programmed
• 47% with income >$100,000 had thermostat programmed
Technology Use and Ownership
• 51% below $50,000 use computer once or more per day
• 67% have Wi-Fi
• 69% have smart phone or tablet
Potential Smart Thermostat Use
• 25% with income <$50,000 would remotely change temp at least 1/day
• 27% with income >$100,000 would remotely change temp at least
1/day
43
Contact
Jackie Berger
APPRISE
32 Nassau Street, Suite 200
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-252-8009
[email protected]
www.appriseinc.org
44