UK Homes Research Articles

Modeling daily energy use in British homes amidst the electricity market crisis: Insights from smart meter and socio-technical data

This study examines the factors influencing daily electricity use in UK homes during the electricity market crisis. Using data from smart meters and socio-technical sources, the research identifies key drivers of electricity consumption, such as household size, weather conditions, and appliance use. Results from a sample of British homes, analyzed through linear mixed effects modeling, show that households with more occupants, greater number of adults, higher heating settings, and fewer energy-saving efforts consume more energy. Weather, housing type, and air conditioning also play significant roles. The findings highlight the importance of integrating smart meter data with other sources to develop effective energy-saving strategies and inform targeted conservation policies.

Estimated Carbon Savings from Changing Surgical Trends in Primary Elective Total Hip Arthroplasty in England: A Retrospective Observational Study.

The National Health Service (NHS) in England has set a target to be net zero for carbon emissions by 2045. The aim of this study was to investigate how changes in key aspects of clinical practice over the last 8 years have contributed towards reducing the per-patient carbon footprint of elective total hip arthroplasty (THA). This was a retrospective analysis of administrative data. Data were extracted from the Hospital Episode Statistics database for all adult (≥ 17 years), primary, elective THA procedures conducted in England from 1 April, 2014 to 31 March, 2022. The estimated carbon footprint for key elements of the surgical pathway were calculated based on data from Greener NHS and the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition. Data were available for 537,441 THA procedures conducted during the study period. The per-patient carbon footprint associated with the primary THA (index) procedure fell by around 25% from 2014/15 to 2021/22. Length of stay was by far the largest contributor to this decline, falling from 169.1 kgCO2e to 117.6 kgCO2e per patient from 2014/15 to 2021/22. Absolute declines in the carbon footprint associated with emergency readmissions, revisions and outpatient attendances were more modest. If all patients in all years had the 2021/22 average carbon footprint, then carbon equivalent to powering 19,976 UK homes for 1year would have been saved. Improving per-patient efficiency of surgery is likely to contribute towards meeting the NHS's net-zero target whilst also helping to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs and cut waiting lists.

Carbon savings associated with changing surgical trends in total knee arthroplasty in England: a retrospective observational study using administrative data.

Best practice pathways for common surgical procedures, including total knee arthroplasty (TKA), have the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce carbon emissions. We aimed to estimate the reduction in carbon emissions due to changing trends in the care of patients undergoing TKA in England. This was a retrospective analysis of Hospital Episode Statistics data from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2022 on adults undergoing elective primary TKA in England. The carbon footprint for each patient was calculated using carbon factors for multiple steps in the pathway, including ipsilateral knee arthroscopies in the year preceding the TKA, outpatient attendances, the index TKA, revisions of the TKA performed within 180 days of the index procedure, length of hospital stay and emergency readmissions. A total of 648,861 TKA operations were identified. Over the study period, the median length of stay reduced from four to three days, the proportion of patients undergoing ipsilateral knee arthroscopies performed within a year before TKA surgery fell from 5.9% to 0.5% and the number of early revisions and emergency readmissions also fell. The per-patient carbon footprint reduced from 378.8kgCO2e to 295.2kgCO2e over this time. If all the study patients had the same carbon footprint as the average patient in 2021/2022, 32.4kilotons CO2e would have been saved, enough to power 29,509 UK homes for one year. Practices that were introduced primarily to improve patient outcomes can contribute to a reduction in the carbon footprint.

Increasing heat pump adoption: analysing multiple perspectives on preparing homes for heat pumps in the UK

Heat pumps are a solution for decarbonising home heating in the UK. However, the readiness of UK homes for heat pumps is an area of concern regarding the policies aimed at increasing heat pump adoption. This work combines multiple perspectives in evaluating the technical readiness of homes with the market readiness of installers and homeowners to proceed with installing heat pumps. The effectiveness of past heating and energy efficiency policies in the UK are reviewed, along with building regulations, incentives to promote energy efficiency and the effectiveness of heat pump technology in heating homes. Current policies support the cost of a heat pump but home improvements to make homes ‘heat pump-ready’ can be necessary to achieve optimal heat pump system performance.This paper suggests the UK will face three major challenges. First, analysis highlights an ‘eligibility-readiness gap’ describing the difference between homes ‘eligible’ (50%) for the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme—a subsidy for heat pump installations—and the likely level of homes that are heat pump-ready (11%) for successful heat pump installations. Second, semi-structured interviews with heat pump installers identified gaps in capacity to deliver the necessary works to make homes heat pump-ready. As small or medium enterprises, the majority of installers do not currently see adding home improvement services to their existing business model as beneficial. All installers highlighted the need for Government to address the cost of electricity relative to gas. Third, a national survey of homeowners in England with gas boilers (n = 1,021) revealed low awareness of the necessary work to make homes heat pump-ready and low willingness to spend money on them unless supported by Government. This paper shows that the processes and costs involved in making homes heat pump-ready before successful design and installation are underappreciated by homeowners, inadequately served by industry, and insufficiently supported by Government.

Drivers That Affect Households to Reduce Food Waste: A UK Qualitative Study

Individual households make significant contributions to food waste. Combating this waste would allow for better food distribution globally that can help combat global hunger. As there is currently a limited understanding as to why people waste food, we conducted semi-structured interviews with people that had taken part in a food waste reduction study, to explore drivers that contribute to reduced food waste within UK homes. Using a thematic analysis, four themes were identified based around the importance of thinking about food waste, having a flexible approach to food waste, as well as being emotionally engaged in food waste reduction processes. It was also explored if others have a role to play in whether people try to reduce their waste; however, contrary to previous findings, such a notion was not supported here. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Retrofit assessment: Getting it right from the start

The UK has some of the oldest buildings in Europe. They are also some of the worst performing in terms of energy performance. In tandem with these issues the UK has committed to making a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions. UK homes are currently responsible for almost 20 per cent of CO2 emissions. This leaves little option other than to make considerable progress with the retrofitting of homes to improve their energy performance. This is a technical process, however, and can introduce risks to building and their occupants. Examples exist of homes being retrofitted with disastrous consequences. Some of these issues can be due to the lack of thorough examination of a home before it undergoes a retrofit. This paper proposes a method that provides a detailed pre-retrofit assessment of a home, to fall in line with PAS 2035, a standard that provides guidance around publicly funded retrofit in the UK.

Resolving learning paradoxes within a UK new-build housebuilder

The build quality of new UK homes is negatively affected by poor quality management practices during the construction process. By implementing stringent quality management (QM) standards, housebuilders can improve build quality but implementing these organization-wide changes relies on housebuilder staff, designers and sub-contractors learning new working practices. This paper explores the tensions which emerge within housebuilders, as they implement new QM procedures. A longitudinal qualitative case study was conducted, where time was spent with housebuilder staff in three regional offices, two years apart. Methods include participant observation, semi-structured interviews and a review of organizational documentation. The findings highlight several learning paradoxes which arise at different stages of the housebuilding process and show how actors manage (or cope with) these paradoxes through their daily practices. This includes processes of simplifying and applying, improvising and problem-solving and aggregating and analyzing. Whilst these either-or approaches enable staff to resolve the immediate tensions that arise from different organizational processes, they often fail to meet longer-term learning objectives, detrimentally affecting build quality over time. Without structural changes to the way volume housebuilders annually report to both the UK Government and their shareholders, organizations in the UK housebuilding sector face challenges in reconciling different learning processes.

Assessing the self-rated sleep quality in UK homes, based on an online survey

The aim of this study was to understand the self-rated sleep quality of occupants in UK homes and their association with bedroom condition. An online survey questionnaire was designed to understand the thermal comfort while sleeping, sleep quality and the physiological factors that affect sleep. The survey was administered for a period of two months (June-July 2022) in the UK. The survey asked particularly about the sleep disorder symptoms, sleep quality in summers, and thermal sensations and preferences while sleeping in summers. The study is observational and based on subjective responses of the occupants living in the UK homes. Analysis of SDS-CL-25 shows that only 22% (35 out of 158) respondents had no positive endorsements for any of the 13 sleep disorders. 41% respondents have a sleep efficiency less than 85% which is recommended by the National Sleep Foundation. Sleep disturbance in majority was reported due to heat/warm bedroom conditions followed by noise and dryness in the air. More than 50% of respondents expressed poor satisfaction with sleep and bedroom temperature during summers. The study highlights the prevalence of sleep disorders, and dissatisfaction with sleep quality in UK homes.

Trends Over Time in the Use, Carbon Footprint and Costs of Facet Joint Injections and Medial Branch Blocks to Manage Lumbar Pain in England: Retrospective Analysis of an Administrative Dataset.

Retrospective analysis of an administrative dataset. This study aims to investigate changing practice over a six-year period in the use of repeated lumbar facet joint injections/medial branch blocks in England. Patient data were extracted from the Hospital Episodes Statistics database for the period 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2021 for the index lumbar injection and for repeat lumbar injections performed within oneyear of the first. The exposure of interest was two injections within 180days or three within oneyear. Patients aged <17years and where the body site was listed as cervical, thoracic or sacral were excluded. Data were available for 134,249 patients of which, 8,922 (6.6%) had either two injections within 180days or three injections within oneyear. First injections fell from 42,511 in 2015/16 to 13,368 in 2019/20 as did the number of repeat injections: 4,018 to 424 for the same period. If all years had the same carbon footprint as 2019/20, 2.8 kilotons of CO2e would have been saved over the fiveyears, enough to power 2,575 average UK homes for 1year. The financial cost of injections decreased from £27.6 million in 2015/16 to £7.9 million in 2019/20. The number of patients having repeated lumbar injections has decreased over time but has not been eliminated. More work is needed to educate patients and clinicians regarding alternative and more effective treatments.

Divergent consumer preferences and visions for cooking and heating technologies in the United Kingdom: Make our homes clean, safe, warm and smart!

Decarbonising the global housing stock is imperative for reaching climate change targets. In the United Kingdom, hydrogen is currently being tested as a replacement fuel for natural gas, which could be used to supply low-carbon energy to parts of the country. Transitioning the residential sector towards a net-zero future will call for an inclusive understanding of consumer preferences for emerging technologies. In response, this paper explores consumer attitudes towards domestic cooking and heating technologies, and energy appliances of the future, which could include a role for hydrogen hobs and boilers in UK homes. To access qualitative evidence on this topic, we conducted ten online focus groups (N = 58) with members of the UK public between February and April 2022. The study finds that existing gas users wish to preserve the best features of gas cooking, such as speed, responsiveness and controllability, but also desire the potential safety and aesthetic benefits of electric systems, principally induction hobs. Meanwhile, future heating systems should ensure thermal comfort, ease of use, energy efficiency and smart performance, while providing space savings and noise reduction, alongside demonstrable green benefits. Mixed-methods multigroup analysis suggests divergence between support levels for hydrogen homes, which implies a degree of consumer heterogeneity. Foremost, we find that domestic hydrogen acceptance is positively associated with interest and engagement with renewable energy and fuel poverty pressures. We conclude that internalising the perspectives of consumers is critical to enabling constructive socio-technical imaginaries for low-carbon domestic energy futures.

ACCESSIBLE SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY FOR DOMESTIC APPLICATIONS IN THE UK: EDGE SOLAR

AbstractRenewable energy is increasingly used and promoted. In the UK, for example, large scale renewable energy farms have been used to supply electricity with great effect. Given the large number of homes, there is considerable impact to be made by small scale residential renewable energy systems. Despite solar panels being the most common form of residential renewable energy technology, only 4% of buildings in the UK support solar technology of any kind. For direct electricity generation, silicon-based photovoltaic (PV) arrays are the most utilised, and when used in a residential setting, they are typically mounted on the sloped roofs. This is where the problem lies. The technology comes with a high cost, and there is further financial burden of installation and maintenance, making solar energy inaccessible for many UK homeowners. This paper presents a research and design innovation project to make PV technology more accessible in the UK. Edge Solar, the innovative, affordable, new PV system concept for UK homes may become a promising solution to significantly improve the accessibility to the PV technology and renewable energy at the household level in the UK and beyond with further development and commercialisation.

Integration of LCA and LCCA through BIM for optimized decision-making when switching from gas to electricity services in dwellings

This study aims to assess electric heating system retrofit options and identify the optimal solution by applying a combined LCA and LCCA approach using BIM for existing UK homes. Exemplary case study illustrating an LCA and LCCA calculation using a BIM model of a house in Bristol (UK), to assess: (baseline) gas boiler; (i) electric boiler; (ii) air source heat pump; (iii) electric boiler + PV; and (iv) ASHP + PV. The optimal option overall is (iv) ASHP + PV, which reduces the kgCO2e emitted by 77% while increasing lifetime cost by 2.1%, compared to the classic gas boiler. This research also finds that embodied carbon still has a low impact on the decision, since the main impact of heating systems like ASHP (SCOP = 3.4) is to reduce kgCO2e by improving the efficiency of old gas boilers (COP = 0.76). Electric boilers are not the optimal alternative; they reduce kgCO2e by 47% but increase the lifetime cost of the system by 105% compared to gas boilers. The change in the “carbon factor” of electricity from 0.519 kgCO2/kWh to 0.136 kgCO2/kWh means that now dwellings using electrical systems emit 35% less kgCO2 than those that use gas (0.210 kgCO2/kWh).

Home, green home

With energy bills on the rise, plenty of people are interested in ditching the fossil fuels currently used to heat most UK homes. The question is how to make it happen, as Margaret Harris explains.

Measuring property flood resilience (PFR) in UK homes

PurposeDespite the present focus on improving the resilience of homes to flooding in UK flood risk management policy and strategy, a general measurement framework for determining levels of flood resilience in UK homes does not exist. In light of this, the aim of this study was to develop a means to evaluate the levels of resilience in flood-prone homes from the perspective of homeowners'.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research methodology was employed, with empirical data obtained through a postal survey of homeowners who had experienced flooding. The responses received were then analysed using a combination of statistical techniques including agreement/reliability tests and multiple regression to develop a model of flood resilience.FindingsA predictive model was developed that allows the resilience of a property to be quantified and measured as perceived by homeowners. The findings indicate that the main factors found to influence the level of flood resilience were: property type (PT), presence of cellar/basement (C/B), property wall type (PWT), property ground floor type (PGFT), kitchen unit type (KU), flood experience (FE), flood source (FS) and flood risk level (FRL).Practical implicationsThe resulting model provides unique insights into resilience levels to the benefit of a range of stakeholders including policy makers (such as Defra/Environment Agency), Local Authority flood teams, property professionals, housing associations and homeowners. As a result, homeowners will be in a better position to determine which interventions should be prioritised to ensure better flood protection.Originality/valueThis is the first study of its kind to have rigorously quantified the level of flood resilience for individual homes. This study has quantified the effectiveness of individual resilience measures to derive the first reliable means to measure the overall levels of resilience at the individual property level. This is regarded as a significant contribution to the study of flood risk management through the quantification of resilience within individual UK homes, enabling the prioritisation of interventions and the overall monitoring of resilience.

Insulating UK homes could save the country 'billions' assessments show [news - briefing

Insulating UK homes could save the country 'billions' assessments show [news - briefing

Modelling the impact on mortality of using portable air purifiers to reduce PM2.5 in UK homes

This work assessed the potential impact on mortality and life expectancy that would occur due to reductions of indoor PM2.5 in dwellings in the UK using portable air purifiers. Reductions in indoor PM2.5 concentrations from air purifier use were modelled using findings from the literature for mean air purifier efficiency, mean indoor PM2.5 concentrations associated with air purifier use, and the relative risks associated with exposure. Life-table models were used to estimate changes to mortality from the following PM2.5-associated diseases: lung cancer, lower respiratory infection (LRI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), and stroke. Different scenarios were modelled to represent a range of daily use patterns, the starting age of use and the duration of the intervention. The overall impact of the central scenario, in which air purifiers were used during all hours whilst at home (15.6 h) for the entirety of the modelled period (birth to 97 years), was to increase life expectancy in the birth cohort by, on average, 138 and 120 days for males and females, respectively, and to add more than 23 million years of life (YLG) to the UK population. When used at home, air purifiers reduced indoor PM2.5 concentrations and prolonged life expectancy, but questions regarding feasibility of the intervention, occupant behaviour and social inequities remain. The estimation of the impact of use by the whole population is, however, important for informing policy and designing interventions.

Predicting Energy Savings of the UK Housing Stock under a Step-by-Step Energy Retrofit Scenario towards Net-Zero

The UK has one of the least energy-efficient housing stocks in Europe. By 2030, the emissions from UK homes need to fall by at least 24% from 1990 levels to meet the UK’s ambitious goal, which is reaching net-zero emissions. The originality of this paper is to apply the building typology approach to predict energy savings of the UK housing stock under a step-by-step energy retrofit scenario, targeting the Passive House Standard for refurbishments of existing buildings, namely the EnerPHit “Quality-Approved Energy Retrofit with Passive House Components.” The typologies consist of twenty reference buildings, representative of five construction ages and four building sizes. The energy balance of the UK residential buildings was created and validated against statistical data. A building stock retrofit plan specifying the order in which to apply energy efficiency measures was elaborated, and energy savings were calculated. The predicted total energy demand for the UK residential building stock for the year 2022 is 37.7 MTOE, and the carbon emissions estimation is 65.33 MtCO2e. The energy-saving potential is 87%, and carbon reductions are about 76%, considering all the steps of renovation applied. It has been demonstrated that the step that provides the biggest savings across the housing stock is the one that involves replacing windows, draught-proofing, and installing mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.

Summertime overheating in UK homes: is there a safe haven?

Summertime overheating in dwellings in temperate climates is widespread. Overheating in bedrooms disrupts sleep, degrading health and wellbeing, and can be life-threatening. Air-conditioning homes is a solution, but is expensive and adds load onto electricity networks. An alternative is to provide safe havens, a cool retreat for sleeping when the main bedroom overheats. This paper estimates the number of English dwellings that might already have such spaces. The 2017 Energy Follow Up Survey (EFUS) to the English Housing Survey (EHS) provides temperatures measured in the main bedroom, up to two other bedrooms and the living room of 750 homes. These data were collected in 2018, a summer typical of those expected in the 2050s. The main bedroom overheated in 19% of the housing stock as judged by an adaptive comfort criterion. Up to 76% of these homes had living rooms that could provide a safe haven, and in up to 46% an alternative bedroom might provide a safe haven. Very few, if any, flats and small-area dwellings had a safe haven. These figures provide an upper-bound estimate; in practice the useable number of safe havens is likely to be less. <em><strong>Policy relevance</strong></em> Safe havens for use during heatwaves have been suggested as a climate-adaptive strategy to ameliorate indoor overheating. In this study, the prevalence of safe havens, which can be slept in when the main bedroom overheats, is estimated. Living rooms offered the best opportunity of a safe haven for sleeping, with 5.8 million of the 7.4 million people experiencing an overheated main bedroom being relieved of exposure. Flats and small dwellings were more prone to overheating, but few, if any, had either a living room or a spare bedroom that offered a safe haven. Overall, this study strengthens the idea that public health advice, especially during heatwaves, should be tailored to different dwelling and household types. For larger dwellings other than flats, advice could emphasise the benefits of sleeping in the living room, where possible, on hot nights. Homes without safe havens should be the focus of heat mitigation retrofit strategies.

Survey study on energy use in UK homes during Covid-19

To contain the spread of Covid-19, governments across the world imposed partial or complete lockdowns. National energy demand decreased in periods of lockdowns; however, as people spent more time at home, residential energy use likely increased. This paper reports the results of a UK survey study (<em>N</em> = 1016 participants) about their energy-use practices during the first lockdown in March 2020. The results indicated that self-reported heating behaviours did not substantially change during lockdown. Regarding appliance use, in particular the duration of usage for televisions and computing equipment has increased and has spread more over the day. Being less able to manage financially was correlated with a greater usage of the smart meter in-home display and a greater attempt to save energy was positively correlated with greater usage of the in-home display, though correlations were small. In summary, the results indicate that home energy-use behaviours, in particular around heating, did not change as much as might have been expected, which might at least partly be explained by the comparatively warm weather during the first lockdown. Corroborating the survey findings with actual energy data is the next essential step to understand findings in more detail. <em><strong>Policy relevance</strong></em> Governments are developing policies to support the transition to net zero. Covid-19 has accelerated the transition in behaviours such as home working which may result in a ‘new normal’ energy behaviour and will need to be taken account when planning for net zero. Insights into the changes in behaviour during lockdown indicate it would be oversimplified to assume that electricity and gas use have increased in all homes because of a stay-at-home order. Self-reported heating did not change, whereas electrical appliance usage increased. The sample composition of the household is important for understanding the energy implications. In this study, about half the households did not spend more time at home during lockdown as judged on their work status. In-home displays may support energy saving behaviour, particularly for those doing less well financially. Hence, promoting their use should be a key consideration when installing smart meters.

Variability of indoor radon concentration in UK homes

This study investigated the variability of indoor radon concentrations in 518 100 homes in the UK. The statistical analysis included measurements in 395 720 homes with downstairs living rooms and upstairs bedrooms. The radon concentration in these bedrooms was found to be on average 63% of the living room value. The analysis of 122 380 homes with living rooms and bedrooms situated on the same floor found that there is a small difference in radon concentration of 9% between the two rooms. The results showed that the ratios of the living room to bedroom radon concentrations were approximately lognormally distributed. The geometric mean of the ratio was found to be 1.6 for rooms situated on different storeys and 1.1 for rooms situated on the same floor. It was found that house characteristics and energy efficiency measures affect the distribution of radon within homes. Detached houses and those with suspended floors had higher radon levels in their upstairs bedroom, 66.7% and 76.9% of the downstairs living room values, respectively. For homes built between 1993 and 2007, the bedroom to living room ratio increased from 58.8% to 76.9% due to the increased airtightness and improved energy performance of the modern buildings. Homes with installed wall and loft insulation had much higher bedroom to living room ratio (76.9%) than those without energy efficiency measures (52.6%).