Consumers-and-domestic-heating-controls-a-literature-review

The potential for good design
� Achieving energy savings through installation of controls, or through
behaviour based programmes such as the smart meter roll out,
requires usable and accessible controls
� Advanced control technologies can allow further savings, smartphones
and the roll-out of smart meters provide opportunities for change
� Innovative controls must enhance and not detract from the usability of
control
Usability and savings
It has been widely argued that inclusive and usable heating controls could enable users to
make greater energy savings, providing a double dividend of greater thermal comfort and
reduced energy consumption. 188 It is thought that, in response to a lack of fine control,
users’ primary motivation is to avoid low temperature discomfort, so they tend to leave
heating on when not necessary, and overheat rather than underheat their home. 189
Rathouse and Young (2005) estimated that savings from effective use of existing controls
may amount to around 2.8 mtCO2 or over 3 per cent of UK domestic heating energy
consumption. 190 However, this figure is based on broad assumptions and indicative, and
quantitative data is needed to make an accurate estimate of the potential savings. 191 The
difference in findings between empirical studies on the energy saving effect of controls has
been at least partly attributed to the relative usability of controls. 192
Usability of controls is also pre-requisite for the success of wider energy efficiency
initiatives. According to Coome et al.:
‘The literature comprehensively suggests that the feedback, comparison and advice
given to users undoubtedly play a role in reducing domestic energy consumption.
However, if the user is unable to act upon the information provided due to the
complexity of their control systems, then reductions may not be achieved’. 193
Usability issues have been held responsible for the poor performance of low carbon
technologies. In one low carbon development an occupancy study evaluated over a year
found energy use higher than expected, which was in part attributed to complex user
194
technologies. In an Energy Saving Trust study into user experiences of heat pumps,
wide-ranging performance values are attributed in part to occupants’ use of controls.
Control systems were commonly found to be too complicated for householders to
understand and some householders reported difficultly controlling the ambient room
temperature. 195
188 Eg
Combe N, Harrison DJ, Way C, 2011, Enabling sustainable user interaction with domestic
heating controls, [http://bit.ly/LXU4BN]
189
Rathouse K and Young B/DEFRA MTP, 2004, BNDH15: Use of domestic heating controls.
190
Ibid.
191
Ibid.
192
Shipworth et al, 2010, and RWL Analytics, 2009, discussed under energy savings
193
Combe N, Harrison DJ, Way C, 2011, Enabling sustainable user interaction with domestic
heating controls, [http://bit.ly/LXU4BN]
194
F Stevenson & H Rial, 2008, The Sigma Home, Paper 595, PLEA Conference, Dublin
195
Energy Saving Trust, 2010, Getting warmer: A field trial of heat pumps. London, Energy Saving
Trust.
Consumers and domestic heating controls - a literature review 30