Self-reported energy use in UK homes during the first COVID-19 lockdown: A survey study

To contain the spread of COVID-19, governments across the world imposed partial or complete lockdowns. National energy demand decreased in periods of lockdowns; however, as people spent more time at home, residential energy use likely increased. This paper reports results of a survey study with N = 1016 participants in the UK about their energy use practices during the first lockdown in March 2020. Results indicated that self-reported heating behaviours did not substantially change during lockdown. Regarding appliance use, in particular the duration of usage for TVs and computing equipment has increased and has spread out more over the day. Being less able to manage financially was correlated with greater usage of the smart-meter in-home-display and greater attempt to save energy was positively correlated with greater usage of the in-home display though correlations were small. In summary, the results indicate that home energy use behaviours, in particular around heating, did not change as much as might have been expected, which might at least partly be explained by the comparatively warm weather during the first lockdown. Corroborating the survey findings with actual energy data is the next essential step to understand findings in more detail.