Abstract
Domestic zonal heating controls enable hydronic systems to heat rooms to different temperatures at different times. The first credible evidence known to the authors, of the in-use energy savings of such controls, is reported. The results and research methods are globally relevant.The energy demands and room temperatures in 68, gas-heated, owner-occupied, semi-detached homes, in the English Midlands were monitored for a year before zonal controls were fitted in 37 of the homes prior to the second year of monitoring. The other homes retained the existing heating controls and so provided a matched (control) group. Surveys and questionnaires characterised the dwellings, heating systems and households.In two thirds of the homes with zonal controls the annual gas demand decreased, in one third it increased. Overall, the mean gas demand decreased by 3.5% relative to the homes that retained their existing controls. Savings were achieved primarily by reducing bedroom temperatures, especially in the evenings.Wireless, digital zonal controls are unlikely to provide an acceptable payback through reductions in energy bills at today’s prices, but they offer households the flexibility to react to time-of-use energy pricing.A matched (control) group is essential for the reliable calculation of energy demand changes arising from interventions in occupied homes.
Highlights
In 2014, the buildings sector accounted for 31% of total global final energy use, 54% of final electricity demand, and 8% of energy-related CO2 emissions or 23% if emissions from upstream electricity generation is accounted for [28]1
This paper presents the results of a multi-year field trial capable of revealing the changes in heating energy demand resulting from the installation of zonal space heating control systems in occupied homes
The reduction in gas demands due to installing zonal controls can be calculated in a number of ways
Summary
In 2014, the buildings sector accounted for 31% of total global final energy use, 54% of final electricity demand, and 8% of energy-related CO2 emissions or 23% if emissions from upstream electricity generation is accounted for [28]1. In the UK, approximately 14% of total emissions comes from heating homes but the current annual emissions trajectory is incompatible with achieving a net-zero economy by 2050 [23] and so energy efficiency improvements are an imperative. The global need to combat climate change, will drive a shift in home heating away from fossil fuels towards electricity supplied from renewable sources both in the UK [11] and as a component of net zero energy homes in Europe [40]. Hydronic heating systems based on heat pumps will become common place in Europe [18] and elsewhere [28]
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