Xxxxxxxxxxx Attitudes. Xxxxxxxxxxx attitudes are different between countries because of environmental culture, education and are not the same which affects the thermal comfort25. The impacts of energy crises, with increasing energy price, have caused a decrease of energy consumption (2/3 of decreasing consumption are link to the changing of attitude). Some general indicators may be common for European countries26: - The type of dwelling: in a house, the consumer takes care about his energy consumption. This is also true for a xxxxxxxxxxx who lives in an apartment (with collective heating systems) with metering. Generally, the lack of metering is synonymous with greater consumption. - The type of energy: the consumer may also pay attention to the consumption (specifically when the energy is expensive) and generally the consumer accepts to reducing the temperature of 6 to 7°C. - The age of the xxxxxxxxxxx is important too: - young people have an attitude which does not consider efficiency, - 35 to 50 years old: the xxxxxxxxxxx has a good attitude towards efficient energy, - 50 to 60 years old: these people invest in assessment of insulation, efficient energy product. - The xxxxxxxxxxx is sensitive to the facility of using of heating systems (on/off systems), - People with low incomes take care about heating consumption, but they can’t invest in efficient products. - Generally, two or three years after buying an apartment, the new owner replaces the boiler for a new one. - Old people (which use today, an coal/wood heating system) want to replace their “manual” heating system by a gas or oil one. Also, 50% of the holders get maintenance27 for heat generators. Generally, there is regulation about sanitary aspects (cleaning ducts, chimneys,…). This low rate is the fact of the lack of control, or obligation about efficiency energy of boilers. The ECI study28 gives a good view of attitude of consumers of United Kingdom about their heating systems. The results of this study can also represent the general attitude in European 25 Thermal comfort is influenced by objective indicators and subjective perspectives: - physiological perceptions, - cultural references, - symbolic dimensions. 26 France: See CSTB (Centre Scientifique & Technique du Bâtiment) study – 1986. 27 In France: 50% ; Germany: 60 to 70% countries, particularly in the northern countries. But, it is important to remember that the northern European countries are more sensitive to environmental questions than the southern ones. ...
