Exploring how existing smart meter infrastructure could support safer homes, better retrofit outcomes and greater public value.
Smart Meter Enabled Environmental Sensing (SMEES) is an exploratory project investigating whether Britain's smart meter infrastructure could support the secure retrieval of temperature and humidity data from homes, subject to appropriate permissions, safeguards and governance arrangements.
Why are we exploring this?
Millions of homes experience issues such as cold, damp, overheating and poor energy performance, yet organisations often lack reliable, scalable data on how homes perform in use.
Without these insights, it can be difficult to identify risks, target investment effectively and understand whether interventions such as retrofit programmes are delivering their intended outcomes.
Unlocking public value through smart meter infrastructure
Building on existing innovation
SMEES builds on DESNZ's Smart Meter Internet of Things (SMIoT) initiative, which explored how smart meter infrastructure could support a broader range of connected devices and public-interest applications.
As part of that wider conversation, SMEES is exploring whether existing smart meter infrastructure could support the secure retrieval of temperature and humidity data from homes, creating opportunities for better evidence, more targeted interventions and greater public value across housing, retrofit and wider public-sector outcomes.
Why does this matter?
SMEES is exploring how existing national infrastructure could support better evidence, more informed decision-making and more effective public investment.
Potential areas of alignment include housing quality, Awaab's Law readiness, delivery of £15bn Warm homes plan, fuel poverty reduction and the wider transition to more data-informed public services.
Subject to further evidence and testing, SMEES could also help improve targeting, reduce duplication of infrastructure and support better outcomes for organisations and households.
Enabling innovation, not replacing it
A core principle of SMEES is that Smart DCC would act as an enabler, not a provider of environmental sensing, analytics or property management services.
In this model, DCC would provide trusted infrastructure and governance, while commercial organisations develop and deliver the products, services and innovation.
The aim is to support a stronger market ecosystem that can scale more quickly, and maximise the value of existing smart meter infrastructure, not expand DCC’s role.
Working in Collaboration
Bringing together expertise from across housing, energy and research
Smart DCC has been working closely with the University of Salford’s Smart Meters, Smart Homes Lab, the National Retrofit Hub and Energy Systems Catapult to explore potential use cases, understand sector requirements and consider how environmental sensing could support better insight into housing conditions and building performance.
This work brings together expertise in housing conditions, retrofit delivery, building performance, smart energy infrastructure and innovation. Together, we are exploring the opportunities, challenges and evidence gaps that future research, stakeholder engagement and potential pilot activity may need to address.
Areas being explored
Housing quality and healthier homes
Temperature and humidity data can provide useful indicators of conditions within a property. SMEES is exploring whether this type of data could support earlier identification of cold, damp or mould risk, helping landlords and housing providers move from reactive, complaint-led responses towards more proactive property management.
Retrofit and in-use performance
SMEES is also exploring whether environmental data could support measured in-use performance assessment, helping housing providers, retrofit funders and delivery bodies understand whether retrofit investment is delivering the intended outcomes.
Fuel poverty and targeted support
By improving understanding of how homes perform in practice, SMEES could potentially support more targeted approaches to fuel poverty, housing quality and energy efficiency interventions, particularly where households may be at greater risk of living in cold or unhealthy conditions.
Research, innovation and future services
SMEES could also provide a basis for further research and innovation, helping stakeholders explore how trusted, consent-led environmental data might support new services, better evidence and future policy development across housing, energy and public services.
Help shape the conversation
We're inviting stakeholders from across housing, retrofit, energy, technology, academia and government to help shape the conversation around Smart Meter Enabled Environmental Sensing.
Whether you see opportunities, challenges or areas requiring further evidence, we'd welcome your perspective. Your input will help inform future research, stakeholder engagement and any potential next steps for the project.
If you'd like to learn more, share your views or discuss collaboration opportunities, please contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are we exploring this?
Millions of homes are still too cold, damp, overheating or underperforming, while organisations responsible for housing, energy and public services often lack the data needed to identify risks and measure what works.
SMEES is exploring whether trusted, consent-led temperature and humidity data could help close part of that evidence gap. Better information on how homes perform in use could support more targeted investment, stronger retrofit assurance and improved understanding of housing conditions.
The project also considers whether existing smart meter infrastructure could help reduce duplication of connectivity and infrastructure, particularly where separate broadband-dependent IoT solutions may not be suitable or sufficiently scalable for all households.
Is SMEES a live service?
No. SMEES is an exploratory project and is not currently a DCC product or live service proposal. The project is focused on building evidence, exploring potential use cases and understanding the technical, regulatory, privacy and governance considerations that would need to be addressed before any future implementation could be considered.
As part of this work, Smart DCC and partners are engaging with stakeholders from across government, housing, energy, technology and academia to explore:
- potential public-interest use cases
- technical feasibility and trial design
- consumer consent and safeguards
- data governance and privacy considerations
- competition neutrality and market enablement
- regulatory and policy implications
- future pilot and trial opportunities.
Will consumer consent be required?
Consumer consent, privacy and data governance are key areas being explored as part of the project. Any future use of environmental sensing data would need to operate within appropriate governance frameworks, safeguards and regulatory requirements.
What data is being explored?
SMEES is exploring the potential use of indoor temperature and humidity data from compatible environmental sensors. The project is not exploring the collection of audio, video or personally identifiable monitoring data.
Who is involved?
SMEES is being explored through collaboration between Smart DCC, the University of Salford's Smart Meters, Smart Homes Lab, the National Retrofit Hub and Energy Systems Catapult, alongside engagement with stakeholders from across housing, energy, technology, government and academia.
How can I get involved?
We are currently seeking stakeholder views on the potential opportunities, risks and practical considerations associated with Smart Meter Enabled Environmental Sensing.
Future activity may include additional research, stakeholder engagement and the exploration of pilot opportunities, subject to appropriate governance arrangements, regulatory considerations, consumer safeguards and stakeholder support.
By bringing together expertise from the housing, retrofit, energy and research communities, we hope to develop a shared understanding of where environmental sensing may have a role to play, what further evidence would be required, and how existing smart meter infrastructure could support wider public value without displacing commercial innovation.
If you would like to learn more or discuss potential collaboration opportunities, please contact us.
Further reading
