New simulation tool evaluates the impact of decarbonisation interventions across housing stock

There are many potential strategies we can use to help decarbonise housing stock in the UK. From changing the energy supply to implementing new technologies and providing guidance on retrofitting, it's vital that we implement the right measures to reduce carbon emissions in homes.

But in order to implement the most effective methods, we need to build a better picture of the energy systems in our homes. This not only includes how much energy is used but also the social factors that might influence any potential interventions. 

EnHub is an open source platform that aims to provide information on effective strategies to decarbonise the UK’s housing stock. The platform uses survey data from the English Housing Survey, UK Time Use Survey and summaries from the ONS to produce models that represent housing stock and shows, in detail, what is happening in the energy system in homes. The tool allows the user to integrate more sophisticated models of occupancy and usage that consider household circumstances and underlying stimuli-influencing decisions. 

The processing of household circumstances data can also help to measure the likelihood of a decision about investing in retrofitting. Results from surveys can help to estimate different patterns of energy use and then, with future data on what would encourage those households to invest, estimate the likelihood that the household will undertake an energy-saving retrofit. By asking people about their intentions and what influences them, the tool allows researchers to improve and explain social motivations for change.

EnHub can be used by policy makers to get a better picture of the energy system in UK homes. It is able to compare interventions, show future possibilities and predict potential issues, solutions and benefits. For example, EnHub can complement the potential of retrofits by quantifying how carbon emissions can be reduced, with a view to power system decarbonisation and local off-grid sources. The tool could also help with replacing gas systems by allowing the comparison of different systems.

Similar models are currently used in housing surveys in England to estimate energy demand. However, the new EnHub tool takes into account detail on building materials, geometry, household occupancy and social information. This additional data enhances modelling and simulation to make them more accurate and useful. 

Dr Gustavo Sousa, Research Fellow in the School of Architecture and Landscape, explains “My research focuses on the analysis of strategies to decarbonise the UK housing stock. One of the major outcomes of this research has been the development EnHub.

“When deciding which decarbonisation strategies to implement you need to consider the  thermal flow and energy demand in our homes, as well as occupant behaviour and processes of household decision-making.

“EnHub allows us to take data from all these factors and produce models and simulations to evaluate whether new measures will be successful. This gives stakeholders a more flexible and transparent tool to quantify the impact of interventions across the housing stock, and to formulate more appropriate instruments to catalyse its decarbonisation.”

Dr Sousa’s research is funded ESRC/UKRI Innovation Fellowship [ES/S001670/1] / 2018 - 202.