Changes in Domestic Energy and Water Usage during the UK COVID-19 Lockdown Using High-Resolution Temporal Data
dc.contributor.author | Menneer, T | |
dc.contributor.author | Qi, Z | |
dc.contributor.author | Taylor, T | |
dc.contributor.author | Paterson, C | |
dc.contributor.author | Tu, G | |
dc.contributor.author | Elliott, LR | |
dc.contributor.author | Morrissey, K | |
dc.contributor.author | Mueller, M | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2021-06-25T10:20:57Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2021-06-25 | |
dc.description.abstract | In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the UK Government provided public health advice to stay at home from 16 March 2020, followed by instruction to stay at home (full lockdown) from 24 March 2020. We use data with high temporal resolution from utility sensors installed in 280 homes across social housing in Cornwall, UK, to test for changes in domestic electricity, gas and water usage in response to government guidance. Gas usage increased by 20% following advice to stay at home, the week before full lockdown, although no difference was seen during full lockdown itself. During full lockdown, morning electricity usage shifted to later in the day, decreasing at 6 a.m. and increasing at midday. These changes in energy were echoed in water usage, with a 17% increase and a one-hour delay in peak morning usage. Changes were consistent with people getting up later, spending more time at home and washing more during full lockdown. Evidence for these changes was also observed in later lockdowns, but not between lockdowns. Our findings suggest more compliance with an enforced stay-at-home message than with advice. We discuss implications for socioeconomically disadvantaged households given the indication of inability to achieve increased energy needs during the pandemic. | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) | en_GB |
dc.identifier.citation | Vol. 18 (13), article 6818 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.3390/ijerph18136818 | |
dc.identifier.grantnumber | 05R16P00305 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.grantnumber | 05R18P02819 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10871/126189 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_GB |
dc.publisher | MDPI | en_GB |
dc.relation.url | www.smartline.org.uk/main-content-area/data-access | en_GB |
dc.rights | © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). | en_GB |
dc.subject | sensors | en_GB |
dc.subject | electricity usage | en_GB |
dc.subject | gas usage | en_GB |
dc.subject | water usage | en_GB |
dc.subject | COVID-19 | en_GB |
dc.title | Changes in Domestic Energy and Water Usage during the UK COVID-19 Lockdown Using High-Resolution Temporal Data | en_GB |
dc.type | Article | en_GB |
dc.date.available | 2021-06-25T10:20:57Z | |
dc.description | This is the final version. Available from MDPI via the DOI in this record. | en_GB |
dc.description | The majority of Smartline data are available by registering interest at www.smartline.org.uk/main-content-area/data-access (accessed on 8 January 2021). | en_GB |
dc.identifier.journal | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | en_GB |
dc.rights.uri | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | en_GB |
dcterms.dateAccepted | 2021-06-22 | |
exeter.funder | ::European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) | en_GB |
rioxxterms.version | VoR | en_GB |
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate | 2021-06-22 | |
rioxxterms.type | Journal Article/Review | en_GB |
refterms.dateFCD | 2021-06-25T10:14:18Z | |
refterms.versionFCD | VoR | |
refterms.dateFOA | 2021-06-25T10:22:05Z | |
refterms.panel | B | en_GB |
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's licence is described as © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).