Household energy use is diverse and complex. It is influenced by a range of factors including the weather, the type of house, the number of people living in the house, the age of the occupants, the type of heating system, the type of appliances, the time of day, the day of the week, the season, and the price of energy. (By the way, that sentence was completed by AI)

Energy use can also be seen as the result of social practices, which shape our activity patterns and choices when buying and interacting with appliances.

Since 2013, we have used different approaches to better understand these patterns and choices with novel approaches to collecting new data.

2013--2015: Using appliance level data and time-of use surveys (HiDEF)

2015--2020: Combining activity diaries with high resolution electricity data (METER)

2021--2022: Using smart meter data and interactive apps (ReNEW)

2022-2023: Analysing smart meter data for heat pump owners before and after installation (Shift0)

Since 2023: Energy Demand Observatory and Laboratory (EDOL)

Research