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Shipworth et al 2010 CH thermostat settings and timing - building demographics - Accepted Manuscript.pdf (1.06 MB)

Central heating thermostat settings and timing: building demographics

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journal contribution
posted on 2013-01-29, 12:42 authored by Michelle Shipworth, Steven FirthSteven Firth, Michael I. Gentry, A.J. Wright, David T. Shipworth, Kevin LomasKevin Lomas
Crucial empirical data (currently absent in building energy models) on central heating demand temperatures and durations are presented. This data is derived from the first national survey of energy use in English homes and includes monitored temperatures in living rooms, central heating settings reported by participants, along with building, technical and behavioural data. The results are compared to model assumptions with respect to thermostat settings and heating durations. Contrary to assumptions, the use of controls did not reduce average maximum living room temperatures or duration of operation. Regulations, policies and programs may need to revise their assumptions that adding controls will reduce energy use. Alternative forms of heating control should be developed and tested to ascertain whether their use saves energy in real-world settings. Given the finding that detached houses are heated for longer, these dwellings should be particularly targeted in energy efficiency retrofit programs. Furthermore, social marketing programs could use the wide variation in thermostat settings as the foundation of a ‘social norm’ program aimed at reducing temperatures in ‘overheated’ homes. Finally, building energy models that inform energy policies require firmer foundations in real world data to improve policy effectiveness. Greater coordination of data collection and management would make more data available for this purpose.

History

School

  • Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering

Citation

SHIPWORTH, M. ... et al, 2010. Central heating thermostat settings and timing: building demographics. Building Research and Information, 38 (1), pp.50-69.

Publisher

© Taylor & Francis

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publication date

2010

Notes

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in the journal, Building Research & Information [© 2010 Taylor & Francis], available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09613210903263007

ISSN

0961-3218

Language

  • en