Assessing the performance of domestic heating controls in a whole house test facility

Abstract

The energy consumed by domestic space heating systems represents a considerable share of the energy consumed in the UK. At the same time up to a quarter of English homes have inadequate controls on the central heating systems. Current modelling tools, and results from the limited field trials that have been carried out, are problematic due to the influence of the behaviour of occupants and variability of weather conditions. The Salford Energy House is a full-sized end terrace house built within a climate controlled laboratory. This allows a house of typical construction to be extensively analysed while completely disconnected from the unpredictability of weather conditions and human behaviour. This paper presents a series of tests carried out in the Salford Energy House into the effectiveness of installing room thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves. Savings of 40% in terms of energy consumption, cost and CO 2 were achieved. The results should be regarded with caution in terms of their extent and application to real homes, but represent a significant contribution to the gap in current knowledge due to the ability to isolate the performance of homes from uncooperative variables, and a potential base for the development of more effective modelling tools. Practical application: This research provides evidence to support installation and use of room thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves as an effective means of reducing domestic energy consumption and overheating.

The staged retrofit of a solid wall property under controlled conditions

“…This has meant that further work on retrofit has been undertaken using the same house and conditions as a benchmark. An example of this can also can be seen in the controls studies undertaken in the house (Fitton et al, 2016). In terms of the measurement approach, the facility allows for more granularity, in that the capacity to use the sensor array available, as well as adding additional sensors is far more detailed than possible even in unoccupied properties.…”

Energy Evaluation of a PV-Based Test Facility for Assessing Future Self-Sufficient Buildings

“…It has solid brick walls, suspended timber floors, lath and plaster ceilings, single-glazed windows and uninsulated base state. It is equipped with a wet central heating system fired by a gas boiler [22]. Most retrofit studies were carried out through a numerical model, but the test facility was essential for the accuracy of the model.…”

“…Most retrofit studies were carried out through a numerical model, but the test facility was essential for the accuracy of the model. Indeed, the facility is a house of typical construction which is continuously monitored while being disconnected from the unpredictability of weather conditions and human behavior since it is located in an environmental chamber and is not occupied [22]. In [22], energy savings due to the installation of room thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves were demonstrated, and in [23] the impact of window coverings was evaluated.…”

Retrofit modelling of existing dwellings in the UK: the Salford Energy House case study

“…The house was re-constructed using the contemporary construction technology at the time with reclaimed materials, for example, solid brick walls, lime mortar, lath and plaster ceilings, etc. In the past years, various tests were conducted using the facilityfrom full building retrofit to heating controls (Farmer et al, 2016;Fitton et al, 2016). SEH has become a hub for exploring domestic housing retrofit technologies.…”