The Apartment Energy Behaviour Study (AEBS) is a four-year collaboration between Australia’s national science agency and a federal government department. The study investigates whether the behavioural profiles embedded within the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) reasonably reflect how people actually use energy in Class 2 buildings, specifically apartments.
A comprehensive document review identified more than 50 assumptions in NatHERS relating to occupant energy behaviour. Building on these findings, the project team developed a mixed-method research design comprising four complementary methods to systematically test and validate these assumptions.
One method involves installing monitoring equipment in 430 apartments and continuously collecting data over a two-year period on: (1) indoor environmental conditions—air temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide, illuminance, and background noise; (2) household energy consumption of HVAC systems, cooking appliances, and lighting; (3) occupant behaviour related to window and balcony door operation; and (4) air conditioning usage patterns, including frequency, duration, and thermostat settings.
In January 2024, the team initiated the AEBS Technical Review, a systematic evaluation of available technological solutions for environmental monitoring. Over four months, more than 70 Internet of Things (IoT) devices were assessed within a purpose-built “DIY test chamber” established in a residential setting. This arrangement enabled side-by-side comparison of IoT devices with scientific-grade instruments under real-world conditions to establish reliable performance benchmarks.
For probity reasons, this paper does not identify or compare individual IoT products. Instead, it describes the overarching evaluation process and criteria applied across two stages: an initial shortlisting phase followed by detailed assessment to determine suitability for field deployment.
The paper concludes by presenting a framework for evaluating IoT technologies used to quantify occupant energy behaviour in residential buildings, thereby supporting more evidence-based approaches to energy modelling and policy development in Australia’s housing sector.