the role of occupant behaviour in retrofit success

it is yesterday. horsemouth has his cup of tea. it is warm outside. he aims to take notes here on a lecture on the role of occupant behaviour in retrofit success.

'the cheapest energy is the one that is not consumed'

efficient energy design of the building, then the efficient energy devices. but first the efficient energy design of the building, a fabric first approach.

we need to be aware of potential unintended consequences. we need to think about real houses lived in by real people. there is plenty of simulation research but not many case studies of already existing houses. we need robust solutions that are scalable and cost effective. we focus on what is quantifiable and measurable but really we should focus on what the people say. 

people need more information, better commissioning and more control. hand over is important. by the second winter people improved their energy usage as they got more used to tech.. 

fabric measures are straightforward but changing heating systems is big. never underestimate the amount of support that people will need.

later that evening horsemouth went bell ringing. he is pulling the tail at the minute with the person instructing him pulling the 'sally'. he's just trying to keep it in 'time' at the moment - he was sent to the tenor bell that in many of the ringing patterns just rings in the 6th position - it does not move 'up' or 'down' the order (it does no 'work' in bell ringing parlance). there was another person there who had just started. it's only horsemouth's second visit. 

he should be mainly focusing on getting a nice even pull. 

and after the bell-ringing? the pub. the angel in grosmont he believes  (over in welsh wales as his guide put it). this seemed lively. the village  has a church and a market hall and behind that a pub that seemed to be very lively. there were musical instruments all over the walls and in the far corner some people were meeting to sing folk songs by the sound of it (wild rover etc.).this morning horsemouth doesn't feel so bad, he managed to get in some water and some paracetamol. he took care to drink more carefully than last time. 

in a few minutes horsemouth will finish off his coffee and wander down to open up the abbey.