COVID-19 lockdowns and their effect on energy use in residential buildings: a longitudinal comparative study of three Melbourne households
Robert H. Crawford, Geoffrey R. CrawfordPurpose
The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns significantly altered household energy use patterns as work, education and daily activities shifted into residential buildings. This study examines the effect of COVID-19-related lockdowns on household energy use in three Melbourne households with differing occupancy patterns and demographics.
Design/methodology/approach
A longitudinal comparative case study approach was used to analyse electricity and natural gas consumption data from three households in Melbourne, Australia, across pre-lockdown, lockdown and post-lockdown periods between 2014 and 2023. Household occupancy patterns, work-from-home (WFH) activities, remote learning, weather conditions and Internet data use were also considered to help interpret variations in energy use.
Findings
The results showed notable increases in household energy use during lockdowns, particularly in households experiencing substantial changes in occupancy and activities. The family household with remote learning and WFH activities showed the largest increase in electricity use, with lockdown-period demand increasing by up to 37% compared to previous years. In contrast, minimal changes were observed in the single-retiree household where occupancy patterns remained largely unchanged. The findings highlight how household composition, occupancy and behavioural changes strongly influence residential energy use responses during systemic disruptions.
Research limitations/implications
The study is based on three case-study households and is intended as a descriptive and comparative analysis rather than a statistically generalisable assessment of residential energy use.
Originality/value
This study contributes detailed longitudinal evidence of household-level energy use before, during and after COVID-19 lockdowns using actual electricity and gas consumption data. The study provides insight into the long-term implications of increased residential occupancy and WFH arrangements on household energy demand.