Comfort and fuel use in 14 South-London pensioners' flats during winter

In each pensioner's home investigated, the living room was heated during the afternoons and evenings to between 17 and 24°C. The rate of heating in the rest of the flat was influenced by weekly income. Temperatures there were very much lower than in the living room, generally being less than 12°C in the bedroom(s) and bathroom during average winter conditions. The lowest temperatures in these rooms were 5°C and 2°C respectively. Medical research shows that such cold conditions can be harmful to health, especially of the elderly or very young. The total annual rate of fuel expenditure was largely determined by other fuel use (e.g. for providing hot water and cooking). The rate of financial expenditure on space heating the living room was dependent upon its size, the chosen comfort temperature, and the weather conditions experienced. Financial income and the location of the flat affected the rate of expenditure on heating in the rest of the flat; the number of occupants and the use of the immersion heater influenced the rate of expenditure for other uses of fuels. The majority of factors which could lead to improvements in the thermal comfort achieved within these flats, notably by up-grading the thermal insulation of the building fabric, improving the heating system, use of better hot-water controls, or increasing the financial income of the occupants, were largely outside the control of the pensioners.