Energy use and home temperatures in English housing: results from the energy follow-up survey

Panel: 5. Energy use in buildings: projects, technologies and innovation

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Author:
Jack Hulme, Building Research Establishment (BRE), United Kingdom

Abstract

The Energy Follow-Up Survey (EFUS) is a large survey which was undertaken in England to collect new data on domestic energy use. The survey provided crucial new information which is being used to update the current assumptions about how energy is used in the home, and to inform energy efficiency policy.

The EFUS consisted of a follow-up interview survey of approximaetly 2,616 households first visited as part of the 2010/2011 English Housing Survey (EHS). Additionally, sub-samples of these households were selected to have temperature loggers (823 households) and electricity consumption monitors (79 households) installed. Approximately 50% of the EFUS sample allowed the compilation of gas and electricity consumption data from meter readings (1,345 households). The survey provides valuable new quantitative data on the following:

– How many hours are households heating their homes for on weekdays, and at weekends during the winter? How do these heating hours compare to those typically used as inputs into modelling?

– How many rooms are unheated in winter? What rooms are unheated?

– How are secondary heating systems being used?

– What average 24hr temperatures are found in homes? How do these compare to those typically calculated by the models?

– What temperatures are being achieved during periods of heating? How do these compare to those typically used as inputs into the models?

– How are conservatories being used? Are they being heated?

– How much lighting is found in homes, and how is it being used?

– What electrical appliances are found in homes, and how are they being used?

This paper outlines the main results from this survey, and summarises the implications for energy efficiency modelling and policy.