Energy consumption and fuel poverty are key issues under the current net-zero carbon agenda, made more urgent by surging energy costs. Although Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) give a general understanding of the energy conditions in a home, the accuracy of the certificates has been questioned.

Also, we need to understand how people use energy and what temperature is maintained in their indoor environment. A well-insulated house can be cold inside if the residents suffer fuel poverty and cannot turn on the heating.

In response to these challenges, researchers at the Urban Big Data Centre aimed to develop a cost-effective methodology for sensor-enhanced housing surveys.

Using temperature/relative humidity sensors, air quality sensors, light and sound sensors, electricity/gas meter readings, and associate survey questions about energy usage preferences, we can gain further knowledge of people’s indoor living environments and energy consumption. These data can give a greater understanding of fuel poverty and its direct impact on daily life.

Read the article on the Urban Big Data Centre website

First published: 30 June 2022

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