COVID-19 lockdown energy use changes in Australian apartments

Abstract

The emergence of low-carbon and net zero houses and developments with innovative energy and water efficiency features are a driver of change in the built environment sector around the world. Innovation has occurred through design guidelines and standards but the key to the building's performance is the occupancy routines and practices. The routines and practices of individuals are highly dependent however on institutional and social rhythms outside of the built form. These rhythms relate to the working and social lifestyle of people that influence when homes are occupied and traditionally when energy is consumed. Building on previous analyses conducted around the world on residential energy consumption changes during COVID-19, this research analyzed the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on energy use in an Australian case study. Three individual apartment buildings in a sustainable precinct with solar panels and battery systems are assessed via qualitative and quantitative data collection before and during COVID-19 lockdowns. Each building's total energy consumption is analyzed for the two periods through machine learning algorithms and further analysis highlighted the changes in weekday energy use. Three individual apartments are further investigated, supplemented with qualitative data collection, to understand the changes to and drivers of energy practices. The results showcase how the COVID-19 lockdown measures influenced the energy practices and time of use in each building and apartment. They also outline a discrepancy between self-reported energy practices and the actual timing of energy use.