THE EFFECT OF OCCUPANCY PATTERNS ON THE LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE OF ROOF-SPACE SOLAR-ENERGY COLLECTORS ON DOMESTIC DWELLINGS IN A NORTHERN EUROPEAN CLIMATE

A non-invasive approach to determining the thermal performance of a ro of-space solar-energy collector (RSC) on occupied dwellings was invest igated. The beneficial operation index was derived as a simple means o f assessing the influence of occupancy patterns on the solar heating c ontribution from individual RSCs. With appropriate use of RSCs, the be neficial operation index would allow their potential performance to be determined without extensive monitoring of the buildings concerned.