Collecting energy-related consumer behavior information in the real world

This paper deals with the dynamic tension between the detailed information researchers want to know and what can be effectively collected during an interview with a nontechnical respondent. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has conducted 10 cycles of the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) from 1978 through 1997. The RECS collects information both on the energy-related physical characteristics of housing units and on the demographic characteristics of the occupants. Data are collected via a computer-assisted personal interview with the householder at the housing unit site. The interviewers are professional field workers who are adept at conducting personal interviews, but are not necessarily energy experts. In addition, the respondents typically have limited knowledge of energy terms, issues, and heating and cooling equipment. Over the 10 survey cycles of RECS, attempts have been made to collect data items concerning consumer behavior requested by researchers and modelers. This paper will talk about the results of these efforts to obtain the best consumer behavior data in the real world of imperfect interviews and unknowledgeable respondents.