Influence of residents on energy use in 57 Swedish houses measured during four winter days

The aim of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge about energy use in residential buildings. Field measurements were carried out in 57 electrically heated Swedish single-family houses, where the total energy use (i.e. electricity use for space heating, household electricity and electricity use for hot water production), indoor temperatures and water use were recorded during four winter days. Some of the findings were that differences for households’ total energy use of similar houses were large. The characteristics of load curves clearly differ between weekdays and weekend days. The water use differs greatly for the households. This paper is part of a larger project where time use diaries were used in order to further link the energy use to residents’ every day energy related behaviours. To get a better understanding of the energy use in our homes is a prerequisite to be able to both recognise the problems as well as the potentials of reaching energy goals of our society, leading to a decreased impact on the environment from the building sector.

► Field measurements were carried out in 57 electrically heated Swedish houses. ► The total energy use, indoor temperatures and water use were recorded during four days. ► Differences for households’ total energy use of similar houses were large. ► The characteristics of load curves clearly differ between weekdays and weekend days. ► The water use differs greatly for the households.