The delivery of consumer energy requirements is a key focus of the Smart Systems and Heat Programme.The Consumer Response and Behavior Project will identify consumer requirements and predict consumer response to Smart Energy System proposals, providing a consumer focus for the other Work Areas. This project involved thousands of respondents providing insight into consumer requirements for heat and energy services, both now and in the future. Particular focus was given to identifying the behaviour that leads people to consume energy - in particular heat and hot water. This £3m project was led by PRP Architects, experts in the built environment. It involved a consortium of academia and industry - UCL Energy Institute,Frontier Economics, the Technology Partnership, the Peabody Trust, National Centre for Social Research and Hitachi Europe
This report seeks to synthesise evidence from across the different strands of the Consumer Response and Behaviour project in order to improve our understanding of how consumers currently use solutions for heating and cooling the home, and for providing hot water, and how consumers might respond to different characteristics of future smart energy solutions. Evidence is drawn from the full range of sources across the project, including existing literature, qualitative field research and quantitative survey data.
The report covers the following areas, with a needs-focussed summary for each:What is a Smart Energy Solution?The Baseline PerspectiveHow important is heat to consumers?Are consumers willing to change their system?How can solutions better appeal to consumers?Controls and FeedbackHeat Delivery and Localised HeatRadiatorsStorage HeatersUnderfloor HeatingWarm/Forced AirSecondary and other localised heatBody heat retentionaryCentralised Heat GenerationHeat PumpsCommunal HeatingHot WaterWhat Do People Want From Hot Water?On-demand Hot WaterStored Hot WaterNeeds-Focussed SummaryCooling and VentilationThe Importance of Cooling and VentilationActive CoolingNatural VentilationMechanical VentilationPortable Ventilation/CoolingInsulation and Building Fabric ImprovementsInsulation SolutionsGlazing SolutionsPreserving AppearanceInstallation ProcessCurrent Approaches to Home ImprovementsBuilding Improvements Into Existing PlansWhole-House Approach .Reducing HassleAdviceAdvice on current systemAdvice on potential upgradesBuilding MOTPaying for EnergyCurrent payment models"Paying for Comfort"Communal and Community EnergyCo...
This report seeks to synthesise evidence from across the different strands of the Consumer Response and Behaviour project in order to improve our understanding of how consumers currently use solutions for heating and cooling the home, and for providing hot water, and how consumers might respond to different characteristics of future smart energy solutions. Evidence is drawn from the full range of sources across the project, including existing literature, qualitative field research and quantitative survey data.
The report covers the following areas, with a needs-focussed summary for each:What is a Smart Energy Solution?The Baseline PerspectiveHow important is heat to consumers?Are consumers willing to change their system?How can solutions better appeal to consumers?Controls and FeedbackHeat Delivery and Localised HeatRadiatorsStorage HeatersUnderfloor HeatingWarm/Forced AirSecondary and other localised heatBody heat retentionaryCentralised Heat GenerationHeat PumpsCommunal HeatingHot WaterWhat Do People Want From Hot Water?On-demand Hot WaterStored Hot WaterNeeds-Focussed SummaryCooling and VentilationThe Importance of Cooling and VentilationActive CoolingNatural VentilationMechanical VentilationPortable Ventilation/CoolingInsulation and Building Fabric ImprovementsInsulation SolutionsGlazing SolutionsPreserving AppearanceInstallation ProcessCurrent Approaches to Home ImprovementsBuilding Improvements Into Existing PlansWhole-House Approach .Reducing HassleAdviceAdvice on current systemAdvice on potential upgradesBuilding MOTPaying for EnergyCurrent payment models"Paying for Comfort"Communal and Community EnergyCo...