In the next sections, the most important "energy consumers" in iron casting foundries are analyzed and possible energy saving interventions are proposed based also on the energy audits done by the Authors.
From the analysis made by the ENEA for the Piedmont Region [16] results that between all the possible energy savings interventions, 63 % of them is related to the replacement of windows.
This finding therefore supports calls to use visualizations with interventions to promote retrofit behaviors (Darby, 2008; Sheppard, 2005) and to design energy saving interventions which are specific, tailored, and engaging (Gardner & Stern, 1996; Parnell & Popovic Larsen, 2005).
The proposed framework is expected to provide decision-makers with useful information to design effective energy saving interventions to reduce overall energy consumption in buildings.
This study concludes that in order to improve the effectiveness of energy saving interventions, the motives, intentions and living habits of residents need to be given more consideration when designing and implementing retrofitting.
This is an important output of the energy audit, where the economic investment in each energy saving opportunity is evaluated by the net present worth and the payback time, giving a sort of list of priority interventions; the final step should be the continuous monitoring of the effects of the energy saving interventions realized on energy consumptions and performance indicators.
To improve the effectiveness of these energy saving interventions, this study develops and tests a model which is capable of identifying occupants' energy use characteristics and the influential factors of their energy use behaviors (e.g., turning off lights when not in use).
Also, given that income is very sensitive to consumers' choice, we recommend governments' continual intervention through subsidies in making energy-saving technologies cheaper for adopters.
Take energy-saving lightbulbs.
Energy-saving is working.
