Heating controls and influences on householders space heating

Heating controls and influences on householders’ space heating behaviour – do old habits die hard? Ashley Morton 2 nd Year Ph. D student, Loughborough University (A. Morton@lboro. ac. uk) Methodology Introduction • Combination of qualitative methods supported by quantitative data • Total of 15 households which shall be monitored for 16 months, including some pre-installation data. • Qualitative work shall focus on gaining in-depth knowledge of how occupants use their heating system and what behavioural traits are uncovered. • The residential sector responsible for over ¼ of the UK CO 2 emissions • UK Government committed to reducing CO 2 emissions by 80% of 1990 level by 2050 • Space and water heating is largest domestic energy user • New heating control technologies suggested as a means to save energy Preinstallation household interview Research Aims Weekly energy ‘diary’ after installation for 4 weeks Weekly energy ‘diary’ after new installations for 4 weeks Whole house interactive activity Follow up interview “Buildings don’t use energy: people do” K. B. Janda, 2009 System 1 remains To compare householders’ space heating behaviour evolution from installation of new heating control technologies • Both pre and post installation behaviour and differences between use of the three different systems. Final household interview Questionnaire on controls System 1 installed System 2 installed System 3 installed System 1 System 2 System 3 Programmable thermostat with wireless communication to the boiler. Allows householders to change setpoint temperatures and set heating schedules. Touch screen in-home display unit linked to temperature sensor with wireless communication to the boiler. Allows householders to change temperatures and schedules similar to System 1 with the added benefit of energy consumption data viewable on in-home display unit. Similar to System 3 with inhome display with energy consumption information and additional programmable TRV’s. The programmable TRV’s allow for each room with one to be given a different temperature set-point and heating schedule to suit the householders. Does installing digital heating controls lead to a change in household heating patterns? Do the new heating controls lead to a saving in energy use for households? Research Questions Do occupant heating behaviours change after installation of new heating controls? Some initial results Desire to be comfortable • A focus group on heating use was carried out during the summer • Questions related to topic areas of interest for the main study such as heating habits • Discussion covered; ◊ Most important factors ◊ Influences on heating use ◊ Heating control strategies ◊ Negotiations of heating ◊ Heating for alternative purposes than providing warmth • Cost was identified as being important but no participants said it currently drove their heating use. “I love to be warm I really hate to be cold so I probably live in an overheated house but that is just how I like to live” Secondary heating sources Accessibility to heating controls Factors identified as influencing heating use Previous thermal experiences Health issues “I’m a cold blooded person so heating is important to me. I’d stint on food before I’d stint on heating” Compromises to ensure all occupants comfortable London Loughborough Centre for doctoral research in energy demand Central House 14 Upper Woburn Place London, WC 1 H 0 NN www. lolo. ac. uk