How Much Energy Should My Business Use?

Benchmark Heat Demands for Unmetered Domestic Properties

It is important to assess heat demands for commercial and domestic properties separately due to the massive differences in consumption.

The following benchmark table includes both heating and water demands. Final benchmark heat demands for each property type and age band must be adjusted by the regional weather correction factors presented in Figure 1.3).

Figure 1.1 – Annual domestic energy demand (kWh/year) for heating and hot water by property type and age.

Age BandFlatTerraceSemi-DetachedDetached
Pre 191710,58116,04220,47630,714
1918 – 19389,75514,64018,65227,977
1939 – 19598,99413,18216,68825,033
1960 – 19758,65312,71016,06524,098
1976 – 19828,10111,74014,74922,123
1983 – 19898,33111,98915,07222,608
1990 – 19996,8289,47911,72817,592
Post 20006,2188,37110,30615,459
Source:  gov.uk

Benchmark Heat Demands for Unmetered Non-domestic Properties

The following benchmark table includes both heating and water demands. Final benchmark heat demands for each category of use must be adjusted by the regional weather correction factors in Figure 1.3. This correction factor should be applied to only the proportion of the benchmark related to degree days.

Figure 1.2 – Non-domestic heat demand (kWh/m^3/year) for heating and hot water by category of use.

Category of useFossil-thermal typical benchmark (kWh/m^3)% Fossil-thermal pro-rated to degree days
General office12055
High street agency12055
General retail17055
Large non-food shop17055
Small food store17055
Large food store10555
Restaurant37030
Bar, pub or licensed club35040
Hotel33045
Cultural activities, Clinics and Terminals20055
Entertainment halls42055
Swimming pool centre113055
Fitness and health centre44040
Dry sports and leisure facility33055
Public buildings with light usage10555
Schools and seasonal public buildings15055
University campus24055
Clinic20055
Hospital (clinical and research)42055
Long term residential42055
General accommodation30055
Emergency services39055
Laboratory or operating theatre16055
Public waiting or circulation12055
Terminal20055
Workshop18055

Weather Correction Factors for Benchmark Heat Demands

The following table (Figure 1.3) contains the correction factors to be used and applied to both the domestic, and non-domestic benchmark heat demands. This will help to achieve final benchmark figures, as set out in Figure 1.1 and Figure 1.2 above.

Figure 1.3 -Weather Correction Factors (By Region)

RegionDifference (%)
Thames-15
South East England0
Southern England-5
South West England-18
Severn-12
Midlands3
West Pennines1
NW England / SW Scotland13
Borders12
North East England11
East Pennines2
East Anglia4
West Scotland12
East Scotland12
North East Scotland12
Wales-3
Northern Ireland7
North West Scotland12