The central contribution of this work is concerned with the understanding of the real performance of domestic retrofit measures in terms of whole house energy efficiency. The researcher has undertaken studies in a whole house test facility in a climate controlled chamber, which has allowed for work to be undertaken that challenges the existing assumptions within regulatory steady state models, such as the Standard Assessment Procedure, something that is not easily undertaken in field-based and occupied properties. The two studies, around controls and curtains indicate that relatively small changes to the building can have potentially significant impact on the performance of the building, something that is poorly addressed within the models.\ud
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This work focuses on the performance gap, the difference between modelled and measured performance is investigated. As such, supporting work discusses the relationship between measured data and regulatory models, as well as considering issues with existing and the development of new methods for measuring performance in the field. These studies are undertaken within a contextual understanding of the current retrofit field from a policy and market perspective; this work is essential in terms of positioning the work in terms of ensuring it applicability and implications for the sector.\ud
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The main findings indicate that the one factor at a time approach, facilitated by the controlled environment within the facility, reveals significant differences between the measured values and the regulatory models. This is demonstrated in research on building controls and window coverings