The Challenge of Home Energy Efficiency
Home monitoring tools could be the next revolution for energy efficiency in people’s homes. City Science is at the cutting edge of this innovation, with its array of monitoring tools and research into their applications.
Recent Developments: ECO and GBIS Consultation
The recent Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) consultation marks a pivotal moment for home energy efficiency. The proposed Pay-for-Performance (PFP) mechanism represents a groundbreaking approach to retrofit financing, shifting from modelled predictions to measured outcomes. City Science is at the forefront of this transformation, with monitoring tools that precisely align with the consultation’s innovative vision.
Unlocking Finance and Innovation
The ECO consultation’s Pay-for-Performance mechanism presents an unprecedented opportunity for energy efficiency financing. By measuring actual home energy improvements through precise Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) monitoring, we can:
- Unlock new funding streams for retrofits
- Provide robust evidence of energy savings
- Support energy providers in meeting their obligations
- Reduce financial risk in retrofit investments
Limitations of Existing Assessment Methods Until recently, the only useful source of information on most property’s energy efficiency was its EPC rating. However, not only do almost half of UK properties not have one [1] but the quality of their data is very poor. Figure 1 shows insights from a study by Etude which looked at the energy intensity of 410 houses rated B – E and found the variation in energy intensity within any band was far greater than the difference in energy intensity between the bands. This is perhaps unsurprising when we consider that an EPC survey takes only 30-40 minutes and relies on many outdated assumptions around building composition and energy usage. A more detailed property survey from a qualified retrofit assessor can give more reliable inputs but even these will struggle to accurately predict energy usage and can be very expensive.
Figure 1: Energy intensity variation within EPC bands [1].
The Power of Monitoring Techniques
This is where monitoring techniques come in. Take smart meter data to quantify energy usage and install a handful of temperature sensors in the home and you’ve got the data needed to accurately determine the energy efficiency of a property.
How Monitoring Works
Data can be sent automatically via an API to an algorithm that can turn the data into a Heat Transfer Coefficient and predictions of future energy usage. This information can be used to identify which properties in a portfolio most need retrofit measures; to size a new heat pump for the property (as City Science are studying in depth in their Heat Pump Ready – Right Sizing Heat Pumps project) or to assess how much energy certain retrofit measures will save. Monitoring approaches are more accurate, require less labour time and cheaper than survey approaches. With the ability to predict the timing of heating needed, they can integrate with flexible energy pricing to give even more accurate bill forecasts.
Monitoring Constraints and Innovations Monitoring approaches require around 10 days of data collection and can be performed whenever it is at least five degrees colder outside than inside and the heating is on for at least an hour per day. This does leave a period in the summer where they are not practical and it may be necessary to either delay work or rely on surveys during this period. City Science is carrying out some innovative work to find ways around this, where heating the home for a short period during the summer above the external temperature could provide the required temperature differential.
Figure 2: How monitoring-based thermal estimation errors vary with seasons.
Ready to Transform Your Energy Efficiency Strategy?
Monitoring technologies are set to revolutionise how we think about energy efficiency, with a level of insight that has not been possible before. Until now only vague estimates of energy efficiency were possible; with home monitoring, detailed real-time insights may be critical in targeting the retrofit measures the world needs to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown.
Want to unlock more finance, understand monitoring capabilities, or explore how to leverage the new PFP mechanism?
Contact our team to discover how precise monitoring can transform your energy efficiency approach: info@cityscience.com
[1] 2020.04.17-EPCs as efficiency targets-v9(1).pdf (passivhaustrust.org.uk)