Form 2020 RECS Nonrespo 2020 RECS Nonrespo 2020 RECS Nonresponse Follow-up Survey

[Type here] OMB No. 1905-0186

Approval Expires: 04/30/2022

Burden: 6 minutes

2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey

NRFU Questionnaire Specifications

The 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) will include a follow-up nonresponse follow-up (NRFU) questionnaire. This questionnaire will be administered by paper only. The primary purpose of these specifications is to document the wording of questions and responses seen by respondents, as well as the skip logic that guides respondents through the instrument. A secondary purpose of these specifications is to document metadata for various RECS project needs – this includes variable names, variable types, response set values, and allowable numeric ranges.

The template for each item in these specifications is as follows: A1

VARIABLE1
ASK	All respondents
Question Text Yes No
NEXT	VARIABLE2

In the example above, the responses to VARIABLE1 would be stored as values of 1 and 0. For questions that require a numeric response, the allowable range is specified in this format: {TWO DIGITS}. The response sets and ranges are generally consistent between the 2020 RECS main household and NRFU questionnaire.

The following is a list of response set conventions that will generally be used for the 2020 RECS project:

• Yes/No questions: 1 for Yes, 0 for No

• Select-all-that-apply questions: 1 if selected, 0 if not

• Other response: 99

• Not Applicable response: -3

• Explicit Don’t Know response: -4

• Illegible responses (paper only): -5

• Multiple responses to single response question (paper only): -6

Please answer the following questions about the home associated with the address on the enclosed letter.

TYPEHUQ
ASK	All respondents
Which best describes your home? Mobile home Single-family house detached from any other house Single-family house attached to one or more other houses (for example: duplex, row house, or townhome) Apartment in a building with 2 to 4 units Apartment in a building with 5 or more units
NEXT	If TYPEHUQ in(2,3): CELLAR, ATTIC, PRKGPLC1 Else: PRIMRES

CELLAR, ATTIC, PRKGPLC1
ASK	If TYPEHUQ in(2,3)
Which of the following areas does your home have? Yes No Basement [CELLAR] 1 0 Attic [ATTIC] 1 0 Attached garage [PRKGPLC1] 1 0
NEXT	STORIES

STORIES
ASK	If TYPEHUQ in(2,3)
Not including basements or attics, how many stories does your home have? One story Two stories Three stories Four or more stories Split-level
NEXT	PRIMRES

PRIMRES
ASK	All respondents
Is the home associated with the address on the enclosed letter your primary residence? Your primary residence is the place where you live most of the year. Yes No
NEXT	KOWNRENT

KOWNRENT
ASK	All respondents
Is your home… Owned by you or someone in your household? Rented? Occupied without payment of rent?
NEXT	BEDROOMS

BEDROOMS
ASK	All respondents
How many bedrooms are in your home? Include rooms in finished basements and finished attics. If none, please enter “0.” _____ Number of bedrooms {ONE DIGIT}
NEXT	YEARMADERANGE

YEARMADERANGE
ASK	All respondents
When was your home built? Before 1950 1950 to 1959 1960 to 1969 1970 to 1979 1980 to 1989 1990 to 1999 2000 to 2009 2010 to 2015 2016 to 2020
NEXT	MOVER, MOVE20MON, MOVE21MON

MOVER, MOVE20MON, MOVE21MON
ASK	All respondents
When did your household move in to this home? 2019 or earlier 2020  In what month? __________________ [MOVE20MON: Character variable] 2021  In what month? __________________ [MOVE21MON: Character variable]
NEXT	VACANT

VACANT
ASK	All respondents
Was your home vacant for one or more months between January 2020 and now? Yes No -4 Don’t know
NEXT	SQFTEST

SQFTEST
ASK	All respondents
What is the square footage of your home? _____ square feet {FIVE DIGITS, COMMA FORMAT} Don’t know [SQFTEST_DK: 1 if selected, 0 if not]
NEXT	If SQFTEST_DK=1: SQFTRANGE Else: NUMFRIG

SQFTRANGE
ASK	If SQFTEST_DK=1
We understand that you might not know how many square feet your home is. A home’s size is closely related to its energy use, so we would like you to provide an estimate. Please tell us which category best describes the square footage of your home. Less than 600 square feet 600 to 799 square feet 800 to 999 square feet 1,000 to 1,499 square feet 1,500 to 1,999 square feet 2,000 to 2,499 square feet 2,500 to 2,999 square feet 3,000 square feet or more -4 Don’t know (Select this option only if you are unable to provide a guess)
NEXT	NUMFRIG

NUMFRIG
ASK	All respondents
How many refrigerators are plugged-in and turned on in your home? Include compact refrigerators and refrigerators in basements or garages, even if they are only used occasionally. If none, please enter “0.” _____ refrigerators {ONE DIGIT}
NEXT	NUMMEAL

NUMMEAL
ASK	All respondents
Which of the categories below best describes how often hot food is usually cooked in your home? Three or more times a day Two times a day Once a day A few times each week About once a week Less than once a week Never
NEXT	FUELFOOD
MODE

FUELFOOD
ASK	All respondents
What fuel used most for cooking in your home? Electricity Natural gas from underground pipes Propane (bottled gas)
NEXT	SEPFREEZ, DISHWASH, CWASHER, DRYER
MODE

SEPFREEZ, DISHWASH, CWASHER, DRYER
ASK	All respondents
Which of the following appliances do you have in your home? Do not include community clothes washers or dryers located in the basement or laundry room of an apartment building. Yes No Stand-alone freezer [SEPFREEZ] 1 0 Dishwasher [DISHWASH] 1 0 Clothes washer [CWASHER] 1 0 Clothes dryer [DRYER] 1 0
NEXT	DESKTOP, NUMLAPTOP, NUMTABLET, NUMSMPHONE

DESKTOP, NUMLAPTOP, NUMTABLET, NUMSMPHONE
ASK	All respondents
How many of each of the following are used in your home? If none, please enter “0.” ____ Number of desktop computers [DESKTOP] ____ Number of laptop computers [NUMLAPTOP] ____ Number of tablet computers or e-readers (for example: iPad or Kindle) [NUMTABLET] ____ Number of “smart” phones (for example, iPhone or Android) [NUMSMPHONE] {FOR ALL: TWO DIGITS}
NEXT	INTERNETYN

INTERNETYN
ASK	All respondents
In your home, do you or any member of your household have access to the Internet? Yes No
NEXT	TELLWORK

TELLWORK
ASK	All respondents
Does anyone in your household telework or work from home? Include only work being done for pay. Yes No
NEXT	TVCOLOR, CABLESAT, COMBODVR, SEPDVR, INTSTREAM, PLAYSTA

TVCOLOR, CABLESAT, COMBODVR, SEPDVR, INTSTREAM, PLAYSTA
ASK	All respondents
How many of each of the following are used in your home? If none, please enter “0.” ____ Number of televisions [TVCOLOR] ____ Number of cable or satellite boxes without DVR [CABLESAT] ____ Number of cable or satellite boxes with DVR [COMBODVR] ____ Number of separate DVRs (for example: TIVO) [SEPDVR] ____ Number of Internet streaming devices (for example: Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, or Roku) [INSTSTREAM] ____ Number of video game consoles [PLAYSTA] {FOR ALL: TWO DIGITS}
NEXT	LTGINLED

LGTINLED
ASK	All respondents
What portion of the light bulbs used inside your home are LED bulbs? All Most About half Some None
NEXT	LGTINCFL

LGTINCFL
ASK	All respondents
What portion of the light bulbs used inside your home are CFL bulbs? All Most About half Some None
NEXT	LGTINCAN

LGTINCAN
ASK	All respondents
What portion of the light bulbs used inside your home are incandescent or halogen bulbs? All Most About half Some None
NEXT	EQUIPM

EQUIPM
ASK	All respondents
What is the main type of heating equipment used to provide heat for your home? Central furnace Steam or hot water system with radiators or pipes Central heat pump Ductless heat pump, also known as a “mini-split” Built-in electric units installed in walls, ceilings, baseboards, or floors Built-in room heater burning gas or kerosene Wood or pellet stove Portable electric heaters Other (please specify): [EQUIPM_other] -4 Don’t know -3 Home is not heated
NEXT	FUELHEAT

FUELHEAT
ASK	All respondents
What is the fuel used by your home’s main heating equipment? Electricity Natural gas from underground pipes Propane (bottled gas) Fuel oil Wood or pellets Other (please specify): [FUELHEAT_other] -4 Don’t know -3 Home is not heated
NEXT	ACEQUIPM

ACEQUIPM
ASK	All respondents
What is the main type of air conditioning equipment used to cool your home? Central air conditioner Central heat pump Ductless heat pump, also known as a “mini-split” Window or wall air conditioner Portable air conditioner Evaporative or swamp cooler -4 Don’t know -3 Home is not air-conditioned
NEXT	TYPETHERM

TYPETHERM
ASK	All respondents
Does your household use a thermostat to control the temperature inside your home? Yes, a manual or non-programmable thermostat Yes, a programmable thermostat Yes, a “smart” or Internet-connected thermostat No -4 Don’t know
NEXT	HEATCNTL

HEATCNTL
ASK	All respondents
Which of the following best describes how your household controls the indoor temperature during the winter? Set one temperature and leave it there most of the time Manually adjust the temperature Programmable or smart thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature Turn equipment on or off as needed Our household does not have control over the temperature Other (please specify): [HEATCNTL_other] -3 Home is not heated
NEXT	FUELH2O

FUELH2O
ASK	All respondents
What fuel does your main water heater use? Electricity Natural gas from underground pipes Propane (bottled gas) Fuel oil Wood Solar thermal Other (please specify): [FUELH2O_other] -4 Don’t know
NEXT	SOLAR

SOLAR
ASK	All respondents
Does your home have a solar or photovoltaic system that generates electricity? Yes No
NEXT	ELECVEH

ELECVEH
ASK	All respondents
Do you or any member of your household own or lease an electric vehicle? Please include both all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Yes No
NEXT	HHAGE

HHAGE
ASK	All respondents
What is your age? _____ years old {THREE DIGITS}
NEXT	EMPLOYHH

EMPLOYHH
ASK	All respondents
Which best describes your current employment status? Employed full-time Employed part-time Retired Not employed
NEXT	NHLSDMEM
MODE

NHSLDMEM
ASK	All respondents
Including yourself, how many people live in this home? Do not include anyone who is just visiting, those away in the military, or children who are away at college. _____ household members {TWO DIGITS}
NEXT	ATHOME

ATHOME
ASK	All respondents
How many weekdays is someone at home most or all of the day? None 1 day 2 days 3 days 4 days 5 days
NEXT	MONEYPY5

MONEYPY5
ASK	All respondents
Including all income sources, which category best describes the total combined income of all household members for the past year, before taxes and deductions?  Less than $15,000 $15,000 - $29,999 $30,000 - $59,999 $60,000 - $99,999 $100,000 or more
NEXT	ELPAY

ELPAY
ASK	All respondents
Who is responsible for paying for the electricity used in this home? Household is responsible for paying for all electricity used in this home All electricity used in this home is included in the rent or condo fee Some is paid by the household, some is included in the rent or condo fee Other (please specify): [ELPAY_other] -4 Don’t know
NEXT	SCALEB

SCALEB
ASK	All respondents
In the past year, how many months did your household reduce or forego expenses for basic household necessities, such as medicine or food, in order to pay an energy bill? Almost every month Some months 1 or 2 months Never
NEXT	ENERGYASST

ENERGYASST
ASK	All respondents
Including times when you received assistance for heating and cooling bills, has your household participated in a home energy assistance program that helps to pay energy bills or fix broken equipment? Yes No
NEXT	NRFUREASON

NRFURECALL
ASK	All respondents
Do you recall receiving prior requests to complete a similar survey? Yes No
NEXT	If NRFURECALL=1: NRFUREASON Else: COMMENTS

NRFUREASON
ASK	If NRFURECALL=1
Which of the following best describes why you did not respond to prior requests? I did not think the request was legitimate The information requested was too personal It was too much work I did not know the answers to some questions Other (please specify): [NRFUREASON_other]
NEXT	COMMENTS
COMMENTS
ASK	All respondents
If you have any additional thoughts about any of the survey topics or the survey itself, please share them here: Open-ended response
NEXT	End of survey

Please return this questionnaire in the enclosed postage-paid return envelope. If you have questions about this survey, please email or call us. <put appropriate email and phone contact information>