Socioeconomic factors influencing residential occupancy trends during and post COVID pandemic

Abstract

The residential building sector accounts for 22% of end-use energy consumption in the United States. Despite the strong influence of occupants’ behavior on energy consumption patterns in residential buildings, the impact of households’ socioeconomic background on occupancy is not well understood in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. This study aims to analyze the changes in occupancy patterns of residential buildings in the United States during and after the pandemic (2020–2022) using 14 socioeconomic variables. The American Time Use Survey (ATUS) data are used to define occupancy patterns; then correlation and regression analyses are applied to determine the most significant variables impacting the hours when members are at home. Results suggest employment status and household income level are the most significant variables predicting hours at home. Those under 25 years of age, low-income households, unemployed, and those identifying as Hispanic have most quickly returned to prepandemic (2018–2019) occupancy patterns. The results indicate that post pandemic (2022), occupancy patterns continue to change for those under 55, employed, and middle- and high-income groups, and thus must be monitored moving forward as they continue to evolve. These results are critical to help support ongoing electrification of homes and decarbonization of the electric grid.