Household Energy and Water Practices Change Post-Occupancy in an Australian Low-Carbon Development
Sustainability Policy Institute, School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia
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Sustainability 2019, 11(20), 5559; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205559
Received: 18 September 2019 / Revised: 3 October 2019 / Accepted: 5 October 2019 / Published: 9 October 2019
(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)
This research comprises a longitudinal study of a cohort of residents moving into a low-carbon development and their pre- and post-occupancy household practices that consume energy and water. They are the early adopters of living in low-carbon households and provide valuable insight into the influence of design and technology on household practices. Household energy and water consumption levels are measured and normalised to the metropolitan average to discuss the influence of design and technology on use. Heating, cooling and showering practices consume the largest proportion of household energy and water use and so the changes to thermal comfort and personal hygiene practices are examined along with a consideration of the influence of lifestyle and family composition on cooling practices. Household water and energy use decreases due to technology and design influences post-occupancy. However, the personal practice history of residents influences water and energy consumption. Changes to the meaning element of personal hygiene practices show how these are interlocked and unlikely to change in their duration when there are other demanding practices to be undertaken.
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Keywords:
energy use; water use; pre- and post-occupancy; low-carbon development; social practice theory; Australia
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MDPI and ACS Style
Breadsell, J.K.; Byrne, J.J.; Morrison, G.M. Household Energy and Water Practices Change Post-Occupancy in an Australian Low-Carbon Development. Sustainability 2019, 11, 5559.
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