Understanding Residents’ energy consumption Profiles: Behavioral segmentation analysis of heat energy consumption in Korean apartment residences

The study investigates the factors influencing heat energy consumption in Korean apartments, examining the interplay between cognitive and behavioral factors, energy practices, perceived thermal environment, and demographics on residents’ heat energy consumption. A survey was administered to apartment residents, yielding 210 valid responses. Smart meters were employed to gather data on space heating and hot water energy usage. Residents were classified into four groups based on cognitive and behavioral factors: Energy Saving Residents, Behavior Control Residents, Non-Motivated Residents, and Energy Wasting Residents. The group with the highest energy usage exhibited a 45.4% higher space heating consumption and a 28.2% higher water heating consumption compared to the group with the lowest consumption levels. Data analysis revealed that behavioral factors, such as habits related to adjusting indoor environments and adaptive behaviors towards thermal conditions, exerted a more immediate influence on energy consumption than cognitive factors. The findings suggest that conventional incentive-based policies may face challenges in fostering behavioral changes among residents if they overlook the specific nuances of individual or household energy consumption behaviors. Therefore, policies aimed at accurately predicting and evaluating energy consumption in the residential sector should consider residents’ characteristics, energy consumption behaviors, and attitudes.