Monitoring residential behaviour and heat (ab)use in 5 European countries In each of 5 partner countries – BG, CZ, LT, SK and UK – 3 volunteer families have had their apartments equipped with monitoring equipment to record detailed heat consumption and user behaviour (indoor temperatures, window opening and closing, use of exterior blinds) over the 2006/2007 heating season.
The data collected will illuminate key national and EU-wide opportunities for effective public campaigns to promote conscientious energy use at home as one important means to help curb EU energy demand and CO2 emission rates.

The building sector accounts for 40% of the energy requirements of the EU and offers the single largest potential for energy efficiency. Two thirds of building energy demand is attributed to households; the largest portion of household energy is heating (70%) and this is growing yearly.

The objective of this project is to identify potential energy savings through conscientious heat use in the home.

Preliminary data show the following:
• Daytime comfort temperatures of 24°C and higher are common in all 5 countries. Typically the indoor temperatures are 2-3°C higher than indicated by the volunteers.
• Turning the heat down at night is rare in the new member states. Although they enjoy relatively high daytime temperatures, the UK volunteers have the lowest average indoor temperature because they consequently turn the heat off at night.
• Conscientious ventilation practices which balance a healthy indoor environment with effective energy use are a key opportunity in all countries.
• Heat is typically spread evenly between all rooms and radiators inside the apartments. Here there is also considerable heat saving potential by concentrating activity and heat use in one or two rooms while turning the heat down or off in less frequently-used rooms (the bedrooms, bath, hall, etc) and the kitchen.

The conclusions from the direct metering in model buildings is being used to demonstrate low-/no-cost measures tenants can take to reduce heat demand at home. Educational events have been held to kick off a series of activities during 2007 to improve energy use in the residential sector.