Crucial empirical data (currently absent in building energy models) on central heating demand temperatures and durations are presented. This data is derived from the first national survey of energy use in English homes and includes monitored temperatures in living rooms, central heating settings reported by participants, along with building, technical and behavioural data.The results are compared to model assumptions with respect to thermostat settings and heating durations. Contrary to assumptions, the use of controls did not reduce average maximum living room temperatures or duration of operation. Regulations, policies and programs may need to revise their assumptions that adding controls will reduce energy use.Alternative forms of heating control should be developed and tested to ascertain whether their use saves energy in real-world settings. Given the finding that detached houses are heated for longer, these dwellings should be particularly targeted in energy efficiency retrofit programs.Furthermore, social marketing programs could use the wide variation in thermostat settings as the foundation of a 'social norm' program aimed at reducing temperatures in 'overheated' homes. Finally, building energy models that inform energy policies require firmer foundations in real world data to improve policy effectiveness. Greater coordination of data collection and management would make more data available for this purpose.

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a b s t r a c tHeating patterns and temperatures are among the most important determinants of English home energy use. Consequently, building stock models, widely used for informing UK energy policy, are highly sensitive to the assumptions they make on how occupants heat their homes. This study examined heating patterns in English living rooms and compared them to model assumptions. A time-series of winter spot temperature measurements was translated into statements of the heating system being on or off during weekdays and weekend days, and the heating demand temperature estimated. The analysis showed that weekdays and weekend days are far more similar than commonly assumed. Contrary to model assumptions, homes were frequently heated outside assumed heating hours and not all homes were heated at the same time or followed the same pattern. The estimated demand temperature was about 20.6 C, and the average temperature during heating periods was about 19.5 C, both lower than the commonly assumed 21 C used in models. Significantly, variability between homes in demand temperature and hours of heating was substantial. The results indicate the need to revisit some assumptions made in building stock models, and to take account of variability between homes when aiming at predicting space heating demand for an individual home.

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