New insights into thermal comfort sufficiency in dwellings

Domestic heating is a major contributor to energy consumption and must be minimised to achieve climate targets. Building on the concept of addressing the distinct heating needs of individuals and buildings separately, the Slowheat project implemented a three-year transdisciplinary real-world laboratory focusing on adaptive heating practices. This initiative involved 23 households in Brussels, Belgium, in a collaborative exploration of the sufficiency of heating: minimising heating while meeting needs for comfort. Starting with a mean thermostat setting of 19°C, participants reduced their indoor temperature to a long-term mean close to 15°C thanks to adequate warming of individuals through personal comfort systems, clothing and physiological adaptation. It resulted in a 50% reduction in heat consumption, without an increase in electricity consumption. These results exceed those of similar published experiments. The qualitative analysis highlights the multiple dimensions of social practices related to heating and underscores the key influence of control and comfort in sustaining significant temperature reduction.