Bruce-Konuah, A; Jones, R V and Fuertes, A (2023) A method for estimating scheduled and manual override heating behaviour and settings from measurements in low energy UK homes. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 41(1), pp. 25-44. ISSN 23984708
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology for estimating scheduled and manual override heating events and heating settings from indoor air temperature and gas use measurements in UK homes. Design/methodology/approach: Living room air temperature and gas use data were measured in ten UK homes built to low energy standards. The temperature measurements are used to establish whether the central heating system is turned on or off and to estimate the heating setpoint used. The estimated heating periods are verified using the homes' average daily gas consumption profiles. Findings: Using this method, the average number of heating periods per day was 2.2 (SD = 0.8) on weekdays and 2.7 (SD = 0.5) on weekends. The weekday mean heating duration was 8.8 h and for weekends, it was 9.8 h. Manual overrides of the settings occurred in all the dwellings and added an average of 2.4 h and 1.5 h to the heating duration on weekdays and weekends respectively. The mean estimated setpoint temperatures were 21.2 and 21.4°C on weekdays and weekends respectively. Research limitations/implications: Manual overrides of heating behaviours have only previously been assessed by questionnaire survey. This paper demonstrates an alternative method to identifying these manual override events and responds to a key gap in the current body of research that little is currently reported on the frequency and duration of manual heating overrides in UK homes. Practical implications: The results could be used to better inform the assumptions of space heating behaviour used in energy models in order to more accurately predict the space heating energy demands of dwellings. Originality/value: Manual overrides of heating behaviours have only previously been assessed by questionnaire survey. This paper demonstrates an alternative method to identifying these manual override events and responds to a key gap in the current body of research that little is currently reported on the frequency and duration of manual heating overrides in UK homes.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | domestic space heating; manual overrides; residential buildings; scheduled heating periods; setpoint temperatures |
| Index terms: | air temperature, estimate, duration, central heating, residential building, low energy, energy demand, energy model, temperature measurement, methodology, space heating, questionnaire, consumption, estimating, survey |
| Subjects: | research methods, project controls, environmental engineering, data collection methods, construction type, mechanical systems, consumer economics, energy systems, analytical methods, financial and cost management |
| Topics: | Cost Management, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Stakeholder Management, Construction Technology, Sustainability, Time Control |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here