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Post-COVID, Net Zero, Heating of Buildings

Photo of a house with smoke coming out of the chimney

16 December 2021

Key facts

  • Funding body: EPSRC through CREDS
  • Project duration: July 2021 - December 2022
  • Project lead: Dr Gesche Huebner
  • External collaborators: Dr Mari Martiskainen, University of Sussex; Dr Janine Morley, Lancaster University. 

Overview

Identify the impact of COVID-19 on UK heating usage and equity, using findings as a platform to determine the potential for enduring changes to behaviour and heating technologies that may be encouraged to support transition to net zero emissions and improve equity. A multidisciplinary programme of research is proposed to draw together the different perspectives and research approaches required to deliver insight into the changes in energy use catalysed by adaption to COVID-19 restrictions. This research builds on existing projects, leveraging previous investments to support collaboration across the field of decarbonising heating, with new empirical data collection, analysis of secondary data and modelling.

This project’s objectives are:

  1. To measure changes in domestic heating behaviour and energy use during lockdown.
  2. To infer changes in non-domestic heating energy use during lockdown.
  3. To determine the likely persistence of these changes into the future. In homes via the collection of new data and in non-domestic buildings analysis using secondary data.
  4. To understand how the role of clothing has changed due to the pandemic and what the implications for space heating are. A multidisciplinary programme of research is proposed to draw together the different perspectives and research approaches required to deliver insight into the changes in energy use catalysed by adaption to COVID-19 restrictions. This research builds on existing projects, leveraging previous investments to support collaboration across the field of decarbonising heating, with new empirical data collection, analysis of secondary data and modelling.

Impact, Influence and Outreach

The findings of this research are directly relevant to BEIS and the HVAC industry. In November 2021 we held a workshop with BEIS aimed to brief BEIS’ civil servants on the research so that the project can deliver policy impact by addressing key areas of uncertainty for BEIS. To these ends the meeting had two objectives:

  1. To update attendees on the research to date on the impact of Covid on household energy use through three mini presentations
  2. To help focus CREDS’ work on the key policy issues in relation to heat, buildings and comfort through discussions in breakout rooms

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