Table 3 The full set of sensor measurements in the IDEAL household energy dataset.

From: The IDEAL household energy dataset, electricity, gas, contextual sensor data and survey data for 255 UK homes

Activity

Appliances, outcomes and conditions monitored

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Whole-home electricity use (1-second apparent power; 5-second real power); Whole-home gas use

Laundry

Washing machines, tumble dryers, and combined washing machine-tumble dryers

Personal washing

Inlet pipes for hot water taps for baths, showers and bathroom sinks, or wastewater outlet pipes or underside of the unit

Space heating and cooling

Boiler pipes (central heating and hot water inflow and outflow); Room temperature and humidity in all rooms; Radiator pipes (inflow and outflow) in all rooms; Solid fuel fires/stoves (e.g. wood or charcoal burning) in working condition and reported by participant to be used at least occasionally; Fixed gas fires; Electric heaters; Dehumidifiers

Hot food and drink preparation

Cookers, ovens and hobs; Microwaves; Kettles; Kitchen sinks

Washing up

Dishwashers; Inlet pipes for hot water taps for kitchen sinks, or wastewater outlet pipes or underside of the unit

Other cleaning

Vacuum cleaners

Lighting the home

Light levels in all rooms

Having things running in the background

Fridges, freezers, and fridge-freezers; Aquariums

Leisure-related

Hot tubs; Wine coolers

  1. Standard sensors, installed in all homes, monitored the appliances, outcomes and conditions shown in non-highlighted text in the table. Additional sensors, installed only in homes with enhanced systems, also monitored the items in italics, where present. For electrical appliances, energy usage and, as a result, time of usage, were monitored. For appliances using gas or other fuels, or using hot water heated by the gas-fired combi-boiler, temperature sensors were used to give an indication of time of use, but no direct measure of amount of gas or other fuel used is obtained. In enhanced homes, it was not always possible to monitor all of the appliances listed in the table because of physical and technical barriers (e.g. inaccessible plug sockets) or because of participants’ preferences.
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