Sustainable energy in UK housing – Monitoring & targeting using integrated datasets

Andrew Amato, Energy Saving Trust, London, United Kingdom

Keywords

sustainable energy, monitoring, targeting, evaluation, database, households, data acquisition, local activity

Abstract

Analysis of the penetration of sustainable energy technologies in UK housing is generally derived from sample survey data. Whilst being extremely useful, these are of limited benefit for those involved in the evaluation, monitoring and targeting activity at a regional or local level.

To address this, The Energy Saving Trust, with funding from UK governments has developed the Homes Energy Efficiency Database (HEED). HEED integrates and stores installations and survey data from a wide variety of sources. This allows national, regional and local analyses of measure uptake, remaining potential and energy/carbon savings to be made. The key programme objectives are:

To facilitate the assessment of the penetration of sustainable energy measures, over time and by location. Allowing analysis of the overall UK situation, as well as that of constituent nations and other regional/local areas.
To provide a key source of information to assist local administrations and central government, in monitoring and reporting on their sustainable energy & housing duties.
To provide a means of assessing the future potential for sustainable energy measures and to facilitate improved targeting, uptake and cost effectiveness.

The database stores data at individual property level to eliminate the potential for “double counting” of measure or survey data and is date stamped as to when the measure was installed or survey undertaken.

This paper will detail how the project has developed, the challenges faced and how they were overcome and explores the future plans as to how the database will be used to assist the development, implementation and monitoring of sustainable energy activities at a variety of levels.