Analysing the impact of spatial context on the heat consumption of individual households

The heating of houses comprises a considerable share of the total energy consumption in many developed countries in temperate and colder climates. While most of the factors affecting space heating depend on individual choices (e.g. occupants’ behaviour, interior building design, heating system efficiency) that are difficult to influence through urban planning, spatial context of individual housing units is within the sphere of influence of planners. Yet the impact of spatial context has hitherto received limited research attention due to the lack of geospatial data and the massive computer processing required to capture the shape and surroundings of individual housing units.