Utilising resident feedback to inform energy-saving interventions at the Barbican

Figures & data

Figure 1. Site plan of Barbican Estate.

Table 1. Estimated U-values of Barbican building envelope compared to current standards.

U-values of Barbican building envelope compared to current standards (W/m^2 K)
Building element	Barbican	Current regulations
Walls	0.81–1.6	0.3
Floors and roof	0.9	0.2–0.25
Windows	3.31	2

Source: Galeazzi (2010).

Figure 2. Photo and infrared image showing heat losses around sliding door.

Figure 3. Barbican underfloor heating schematic.

Table 2. Summary data from BUS variables.

Variable	μ	σ	Benchmark	Scale
Air in summer: overall	5.52	1.36	▴	Unsatisfactory:satisfactory	[1–7]
Air in winter: overall	5.26	1.54	•	Unsatisfactory:satisfactory	[1–7]
Comfort: overall	6.23	0.87	▴	Unsatisfactory:satisfactory	[1–7]
Design	5.82	1.2	▴	Unsatisfactory:satisfactory	[1–7]
Health (perceived)	4.47	1.35	•	Less healthy:more healthy	[1–7]
Lighting: overall	5.49	1.52	•	Unsatisfactory:satisfactory	[1–7]
Residents needs met	6.09	1.01	▴	Very poorly:very well	[1–7]
Noise: overall	5.23	1.76	▴	Unsatisfactory:satisfactory	[1–7]
Temperature in summer: overall	5.42	1.52	▴	Uncomfortable:comfortable	[1–7]
Temperature in winter: overall	5.25	1.64	•	Uncomfortable:comfortable	[1–7]

Table 3. Thermal comfort BUS variables.

Variable	μ	σ	Benchmark	Scale
Summer
Temperature	3.64	0.96	•	Too hot:too cold	[1–7]
	5.42	1.52	▴	Uncomfortable:comfortable	[1–7]
	4.22	1.68	▴	Stable:varies	[1–7]
Air	3.09	1.34	▪	Dry:humid	[1–7]
	3.21	1.38	▴	Fresh:stuffy	[1–7]
	3.06	1.69	•	Odourless:smelly	[1–7]
	3.16	1.47	•	Still:draughty	[1–7]
Winter
Temperature	4.02	1.34	▴	Too hot:too cold	[1–7]
	5.25	1.64	•	Uncomfortable:comfortable	[1–7]
	4.72	1.89	▪	Stable:varies	[1–7]
Air	2.58	1.36	▪	Dry:humid	[1–7]
	3.56	1.44	•	Fresh:stuffy	[1–7]
	3.22	1.74	•	Odourless:smelly	[1–7]
	3.7	1.89	▴	Still:draughty	[1–7]

Table 4. Perceived personal control variables.

Variable	μ	σ	Benchmark	Scale
Control over cooling	3.29	2.15	▪	No control:full control	[1–7]
Control over heating	1.99	1.48	▪	No control:full control	[1–7]
Control over lighting	5.69	2.43	▴	No control:full control	[1–7]
Control over noise	2.26	2.26	▪	No control:full control	[1–7]
Control over ventilation	4.67	2.13	•	No control:full control	[1–7]

Table 5. Differences in satisfaction with space, storage provision, and perceived air movement between the sub-groups.

Towers		North of Beech Street		t-Test
μ	σ	μ	Σ	p-Value
4.03	1.71	3.61	1.93	0.07
6.14	1.33	4.88	1.83	0.000003
4.57	1.68	3.54	1.88	0.0003
6.28	0.95	5.67	1.03	0.0002

Figure 4. Comparison of heating/hot water and electricity behaviour scores between Barbican and new low-energy housing.

Figure 5. Temperature “heating” strategies.

Figure 6. Temperature “cooling” strategies.

Figure 7. Means of controlling temperature (cooling) by respondents stating “other”.

Table 6. Contingency table showing observed and expected frequencies for trimmer and window use χ² test.

	Count	Use windows	Do not use windows	Total
Use trimmers	Observed	51	12	63
	Expected	55.79	7.21	63
Do not use trimmers	Observed	251	27	278
	Expected	246.21	31.79	278
Total	Observed	302	39	341
	Expected	302	39	341

Table 7. No significant difference in comfort between people who use trimmers to control heating and people who use other heating strategies.

	Use trimmers		Do not use trimmers		t-Test
	μ	σ	μ	σ	p-Value
Winter temperature rating	5.38	1.48	5.17	1.61	0.37
Winter overall conditions	5.41	1.48	5.25	1.53	0.46
Overall comfort	6.23	1.48	6.24	1.53	0.92

Table 8. Test for significant difference in summer comfort perception between those who use A/C and/or fans for cooling and those who use other strategies.

	Use A/C or fans		Do not use A/C or fans		t-Test
	μ	σ	μ	σ	p-Value
Summer temperature rating	4.69	1.51	5.56	1.61	0.01
Summer overall conditions	4.97	1.22	5.53	1.40	0.05
Needs	5.81	1.17	6.23	0.76	0.08
Overall comfort	6.03	0.96	6.19	0.99	0.45

Table 9. Test for significant difference in comfort perception between people who use windows and/or doors to control cooling and people who use other strategies.

	Use windows		Do not use windows		t-Test
	μ	σ	μ	σ	p-Value
Summer temperature rating	5.92	1.30	4.92	1.69	0.0014
Summer overall conditions	5.86	1.05	5.06	1.45	0.0021
Needs	6.16	0.90	6.06	1.08	0.62
Overall comfort	6.11	1.02	6.16	0.96	0.82