Abstract for: Energy Management in Residential Buildings: a system dynamics approach

Due to rapid population growth, unavailability of resources and climate changes, energy saving has become of great interest especially during the last 30 years. One of the most evident human activities weighing down on pollution and energy consumption is the construction of residential buildings. However, the construction phase is but one of the stages in wasting resources. In fact, once a residential settlement has been built, it is time for the dweller to use up resources. In our work, we propose an analysis of the socio-technical mechanisms which move people towards energy efficiency and the technology innovation that make it possible. We will then describe the model structure and the various leverages that the users are able to handle during the innovation process. Finally, a discussion of results and implications for future research will also be provided.