The thermal performance of the test houses will be monitored in a free running state for three months and then for a further 18 months occupied. Sensors will be used to control and measuring the heating:

• determine the average hourly temperature in each room of the house

• measure heat movement through the house

• measure heat movement through external fabric of the house

• measure air movement in the roof and sub-floor spaces

•  record local weather conditions.

Temperature variation

Temperature in a room is not consistent. It is influenced by the volume of the room, the use of the room, human activity in the room and the radiant temperature of the floor, wall and ceilings. Temperature will be measured at three heights (0.6, 1.2 and 1.8 metres high) during the free running period, and on internal and external walls while occupied.

Heat movement through the fabric

Heat moves through each surface of the houses: ceiling and roof, walls and floor. To measure this heat flow and the thermal performance of the construction systems, temperature profile is positioned:

• To create a horizontal profile of each material surface at a location on the south floor and north floor

• To create a vertical profile in the living area accross ceiling, insulation and roofing.

• To create a vertical profile in the living room floor through to the sub-ground.

Air movement in the roof and sub-floor

Air movement under the timber sub-floors and in the roof spaces influences the flow of heat through the floor and the ceiling. Tracer gas tests will be performed in these areas to establish the rate of air change.

Analysis

The collected data will be analysed to compare actual thermal performance to that predicted by AccuRate. This will provide a critical but objective comparison between the performance accessed by the rating software and the measured performance of three similar test houses.