OUR impact on household electricity demand is increasing, thanks to powering our many devices, heating and cooling our spaces and the sharp increase in people working and studying from home.
The ‘Future Home Life’ report, published by Monash University, reveals the emerging technology trends shaping the way we live now and how these trends have implications on the future energy needs of Australian households.
The report presents 45 trends and 10 principles to inform energy planning and forecasting for future home life. This report forms part of the landmark Digital Energy Futures project. The team of researchers have uncovered changing digital lifestyles and emerging home trends of everyday Australians, and how these activities are likely to affect energy planning for future residential living.
Co-author of the report, Associate Professor Yolande Strengers, explains how Australians are expanding the range of activities in their homes and subsequently spending more time in them.
“What’s more, people anticipate that the home will become even more important to them as they age, with healthcare and aged care increasingly home-based. That all has consequences for energy demand,” Associate Professor Strengers said.
The team investigated seven areas of home life, where the majority of energy demand and peak electricity demand takes place at present or is anticipated to increase in the future. These include charging and mobility, cooking and eating, heating and cooling and working and studying from home.
As emerging technologies, platforms and services become part of people’s digital lifestyles, their activities across all these areas are changing, along with their relationship to energy.
Entertainment, recreation and leisure pursuits are anticipated to become more important to home life. They are also using more devices simultaneously in different parts of the home, which may increase energy demand for heating and cooling.
As well as identifying 45 emerging trends, The Future Home Life report recommends 10 key principles for future home life to help guide and inform energy forecasting, energy policy and demand management programs.
