For this research - carried out by Lomas KJ and Kane T from the School of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University - Hobo Data loggers supplied and calibrated by Tempcon Instrumentation were used to examine internal summertime temperatures in the living and bedrooms of 282 homes in the UK city of Leicester.

Internal Summertime Temperatures

This being a statistically representative sample of the city's housing stock. The monitoring period, whilst generally cool, included a short period of hot weather.

Abstract
Internal summertime temperatures measured in 268 homes in the UK city of Leicester are reported. The hourly data was collected from living rooms and bedrooms during the summer of 2009, which was generally cool but with a short hot spell. Some household interviews were conducted. The sample of homes is statistically representative of the socio-technical characteristics of the city’s housing stock. The data provides insight into the influence of house construction, energy system usage and occupant characteristics on the incidence of elevated temperatures and thermal discomfort. The warmest homes were amongst the 13% that were heated. Significantly more of these were occupied by those over 70 who are particularly vulnerable to high temperatures. The national heatwave plan might usefully caution against summertime heating. Temperatures in the 230 free-running homes were analysed using both static criteria and criteria associated with the BSEN15251 adaptive thermal comfort model. These indicated that that flats tended to be significantly warmer than other house types. Solid wall homes and detached houses tended to be significantly cooler. It is argued that adaptive criteria provide a valuable and credible framework for assessing internal temperatures in free-running UK homes. However, the temperatures in the Leicester homes were much lower than anticipated by the BSEN15251 model. Numerous possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.

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Tempcon Instrumentation Ltd was established in 1980 and specialises in Instrumentation and sensors (probes) for Measuring, Controlling and Logging: temperature, humidity, pressure, voltage, current, energy (kWhs), wind speed/direction, soil temperature and most other parameters required for: process control, environmental research or quality control.