Since COVID-19 began, have you or others in your household been aware of changes in daily energy consumption that cannot be attributed to seasonal change, for example? (Q39a Wi2020)

This chart reflects responses to Question #39a from the Winter 2020 Survey, which asks respondents who noticed increased consumption during COVID-19, “What are the sources of increased consumption?” The available options were “more lights are on”, “we are keeping the heat on a higher temperature”, “we are using air conditioning for longer periods of time”, “we are using more appliances to prepare food during the day”, “we are using more appliances to work/study from home”, “more TV watching”, “more video game playing”, “the use of other entertainment technologies”, “members of the household are sleeping less”, “medical devices are being used”, “we are using more water”, “we are using more electric-powered devices to work/study from home.”

Fifty-five respondents answered this question. 

• Forty respondents (72.7%) reported they were keeping more lights on. 

• Thirty-one respondents (56.4%) reported keeping the heat on at a higher temperature. 

• Twenty-seven respondents (49.1%) reported keeping the air conditioner on for longer periods of time. 

• Twenty-eight respondents (50.1%) reported using appliances to prepare food during the day. 

• Twenty-four respondents (43.6%) reported using other major appliances more often. 

• Thirty respondents (54.6%) reported watching TV more. 

• Sixteen respondents (29.1%) reported more video game play. 

• Thirty-one respondents (56.4%) reported using other entertainment technologies more often. 

• Nine respondents (16.4%) reported sleeping less. 

• Four respondents (7.3%) reported using more medical devices or medical devices more often. 

• Twenty-eight respondents (50.9%) reported using more water. 

• Twenty-nine respondents (52.7%) reported using electric powered devices to study or work from home. 

• Five respondents (9.1%) responded “other” with two of them using the heater more often, one using more gas, one using their internet data more, and one using a humidifier more often..

The data was produced by the Shifting Energy Demands in COVID-19 Survey - Overview, which was administered to 83 people over a fourteen week period between December 2020 and March 2021. Visit the Winter 2020 Shifting Energy Demands in COVID-19 - Survey Results page to view more data from our survey. The project is approved by Drexel’s IRB.