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Behavioural Change as a Domestic Heat Pump Performance Driver: Insights on the Influence of Feedback Systems from Multiple Case Studies in the UK

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  • Eleni Oikonomou

    (UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, London WC1H 0NN, UK)

  • Nici Zimmermann

    (UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, London WC1H 0NN, UK)

  • Michael Davies

    (UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, London WC1H 0NN, UK)

  • Tadj Oreszczyn

    (UCL Energy Institute, London WC1B 5BP, UK)

Abstract

Heat pumps (HPs) are seen as an increasingly important technology able to contribute significantly towards the decarbonisation of the domestic stock in the UK. However, there appears to be a performance gap between predicted and real-life HP performance, with several studies highlighting the need to include the HP’s interaction with users when examining their performance. This study examines the role of user behaviour in mitigating this performance gap from a systems perspective. A sample of 21 case studies was selected from 700 domestic HPs monitored across the UK via the government’s Renewable Heat Premium Payment Scheme for the collection of qualitative and quantitative socio-technical data. The application of systems thinking facilitated the identification of the underlying interactions between the HP system and its users. The systems analysis revealed that HP performance relies on complex socio-technical system interactions, including behavioural patterns, and that enabling feedback information processes can have a significant impact on user behaviour. The study enabled a deeper perspective on performance influencers relating to behavioural patterns and achieved new insights into the requirements for well-performing HPs. These findings have important implications for policy makers, installers and manufacturers of HP systems and their users.

Suggested Citation

  • Eleni Oikonomou & Nici Zimmermann & Michael Davies & Tadj Oreszczyn, 2022. "Behavioural Change as a Domestic Heat Pump Performance Driver: Insights on the Influence of Feedback Systems from Multiple Case Studies in the UK," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:24:p:16799-:d:1003637
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carroll, P. & Chesser, M. & Lyons, P., 2020. "Air Source Heat Pumps field studies: A systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
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    1. Brudermueller, Tobias & Kreft, Markus & Fleisch, Elgar & Staake, Thorsten, 2023. "Large-scale monitoring of residential heat pump cycling using smart meter data," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).

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