Concern & action: Personal preference

People have habitual practices, e.g.. sleeping with the window open, airing the house in the morning, drying clothes on radiators etc. that may not be energy efficient or may affect technical performance (e.g. ventilation). Note that within a single building there may be conflicting preferences between users.

Suggested actions

Before Implementation

Engage users and understand their personal patterns of use of the house (rooms use, cooking mode, heating settings, ventilation routines). Discuss with them the implications and/or restrictions the new measures will have in their personal routines and amend as necessary if restrictions prove too impractical. Choose controls with user and get them to interact with the options before choosing.

During implementation

Provide guidance in various formats but only of those items specific to their homes. Keep guidance simple, concise and straightforward. Demonstrate user interfaces and controls at handover of their house or soon after moving in. Provide variety of ways of communication for the different ages, needs and abilities. Make it easy for them to ask questions.

After implementation

Come back and check whether there is any teething problems and understand what changes have they made to their lives.

RELATED MEASURES

FABRIC (1)