Central heating type in household
Definition
Type of central heating in the household.
A household’s accommodation is classified as having central heating if it is present in some or all rooms (whether used or not). Central heating is classified by type, as shown in the classification table. Other central heating includes solar, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or other bottled gas.
Classification
Total number of categories 12
| Code | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | None |
| 2 | Mains gas |
| 3 | Other gas (including liquid petroleum gas and biogas) |
| 4 | Electric (including storage heaters) |
| 5 | Oil |
| 6 | Solid Fuel (excluding wood) |
| 7 | Wood or Biomass (including logs, pellets, chippings) |
| 8 | Other renewable energy source (including electric and air heat pump systems) |
| 9 | District or communal heat system |
| 10 | Other central heating |
| 11 | 2 or more types of central heating |
| -5 | No code required - comprises household spaces with no usual residents |
Source question or variables
Household question 10: What type of central heating does this accommodation have?
- No central heating
- Mains gas
- Other gas (including liquid petroleum gas and biogas)
- Electric (including storage heating)
- Oil
- Solid fuel (excluding wood)
- Wood or biomass (logs, pellets, chippings)
- Other renewable energy source (including
electric and air heat pump systems) - District or communal heat system
- Other
Reason for asking
Information on the type of central heating in households is used in the analysis and monitoring of energy efficiency and fuel poverty and to inform where resources to support interventions with these should be prioritised. It is also used by local authorities to identify dependence on specific types of heating, particularly in rural areas.
England & Wales (2021) and Scotland (2011)
This question is the same as the one asked by ONS during the 2021 census in England & Wales.
The response options to this question were updated for Scotland's Census 2022. In the 2011 census questionnaire, the response options were:
- No central heating
- Gas
- Electric (including storage heaters)
- Oil
- Solid fuel
- Other central heating, please write in
Definition
A household’s accommodation is classified as having central heating if it is present in some or all rooms (whether used or not). Central heating is classified by type, as shown in the classification table. Other central heating includes solar, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or other bottled gas.
Classification
Total number of categories 8
| Code | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | No central heating |
| 2 | Gas |
| 3 | Electric (including storage heaters) |
| 4 | Oil |
| 5 | Solid fuel (for example wood, coal) |
| 6 | Other central heating |
| 7 | 2 or more types of central heating |
| XX | No code required - comprises household spaces with no usual residents |
Source question or variables
CENHEAT1 (Primary variable)
SIZHUK11 (Derived variable)
Definition
This variable records whether the household's accommodation has central heating in some or all rooms (whether used or not). Central heating includes gas, oil, or solid fuel central heating; night storage heaters; warm air heating and underfloor heating.
Classification
Total number of categories 3
| Code | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Central heating |
| 2 | No central heating |
| X | Not applicable |