Date of Award
8-2016
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Legacy Department
Civil Engineering
Committee Member
Leidy Klotz, Co-committee Chair
Committee Member
Julie Martin, Co-committee Chair
Committee Member
Catherine Mobley
Committee Member
James Gibert
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to understand ways that occupants’ and visitors’ interaction with energy efficient home design affects Energy Literacy. Using a case study approach including interviews, surveys, and observations, I examined the potential for affordable energy efficient homes in the Greenville South Carolina area to "teach" concepts from an Energy Literacy framework developed by dozens of educational partners and federal agencies that comprise the U.S. Global Change Research Program Partners. I paid particular attention to concepts from the framework that are transferable to energy decisions beyond a home’s walls.
My research reveals ways that interaction with high efficiency homes can effect understanding of the following Energy Literacy concepts: human use of energy is subject to limits and constraints, conservation is one way to manage energy resources, electricity is generated in multiple ways, social and technological innovations effect the amount of energy used by society, and energy use can be calculated and monitored.
Recommended Citation
Paige, Frederick Eugene, "Learning Energy Literacy Concepts from Energy-Efficient Homes" (2016). All Dissertations. 1711.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/1711