| In December 2013 Leonard Chamberlain Trust used my occupied bungalow to test regular use gas consumption in the month from a combi-boiler providing on-demand hot water and central heating. In 2014 a fuel saving device should be fitted that claims to save 30% on fuel usage in a water and central heating system. December 2013 was a comparatively warm month but consumption is measured against temperatures just outside the bungalow. |
| The bungalow is efficient in space and insulation: all radiators are fully on when the heating operates. |
| The temperatures spreadsheet file can be viewed. Figures were kept partly into January to see the effect of showers, washing up and 'the lift' (consumption of gas when switched on) in more detail. |
| When the device is fitted the experiment of fixed time monitored central heating will resume for another month. |
| The results will show savings, if any, and lead to a decision to install these fuel saving devices or not within the properties. |
| It is important to test against immediate outdoor temperatures (a little warmer than in the street, by as much as two degrees) but obviously temperatures outside cannot be close to the 18 degrees set inside because there will be an inadequate 'lift' where consumption of gas is particularly heavy. |
| Already results show the important of setting a thermostat and leaving it alone, and leaving the heating on for one daily session. Two sessions mean half the time on: 8 hours instead of 16 due to the gas consumption being considerably reduced during simple temperature maintenance. The decision to turn heating on is the major decision; how long it stays on is important but marginal hour to hour. |