North Lanarkshire Council constructed 19 Net Zero homes within a new housing programme of 150 council properties. These homes were built with fabric efficiency measures and technologies beyond standard new-build requirements, including triple glazing, additional insulation, photovoltaic panels, battery storage, and heat pumps. An array of environmental sensors was installed in these homes, and additional monitoring and property data were available across a wider group of homes, creating an opportunity to examine how these homes are performing in use.

Project stakeholders were interested in understanding the extent to which the homes appear to deliver improved environmental performance and what practical lessons can be learned from the monitored data. In particular, the project sought to examine how far available sensor, monitoring, and related data could be used to understand differences between housing types, identify patterns in indoor environmental conditions and energy use, and interpret these findings considering household routines and behaviours.

This research brings together environmental sensor data, available energy and property data, construction cost information for the Net Zero homes, and behavioural research with residents to understand how monitored conditions relate to the everyday use of homes. The study also intended to provide practical learning on the opportunities and limitations of this type of data-led approach for future housing evaluation.