For the past 2.5 years, my psychology research has focussed on the question: How can we stay warm without wasting energy given individual thermal variability and the diversity of UK housing, heating and lifestyles.
Individual ‘thermal comfort’ varies markedly due to our physiology, age, gender, activity levels, lifestyles and the form and level of heating in the home at any moment. Most research exploring the factors which affect thermal comfort are carried out in controlled laboratory settings or workplaces. Very little is known about what happens in ordinary life in our homes. This research project aims to find out.
I have recruited 68 UK households with a balanced mix of conventional central heating (gas or oil), heat pumps and infrared heating. A total of 85 residents of those households have volunteered to provide daily ratings of their thermal comfort and the factors which might be affecting it at different times on 30 days from January 25th. Participants are all volunteers receiving no payemt as the research is self-funded rather than sponsored.
Before the trial period, the households will provide a detailed survey of their house, size, age, insulation, heating type and usage patterns and its energy consumption.
At the end of the trial,the combined data from the 30 days of individual thermal ratings will be analysed in relation to a range of reported factors recorded in the moment which may have affected each rating along with the particular heating and room temperatures recorded at the time of each rating.
The research results will be reported here later in the Spring. If you would like to be added to the list to receive a copy of the report, please email me: alison@prospectory.co.uk
You can read my 2 previous research reports on people’s heating experiences here:-
The Prospectory 