Work Package 1: Household and home businesses research

Exploring the future of everyday energy use

As Australia transitions to a net-zero energy future, understanding how households and home businesses will live, work, and use energy is essential. This work package investigates how social, technological, and climate trends will shape energy use and participation in a changing energy system.

Leads

Key researchers

Key research questions

  • How will diverse people and future households and businesses engage with new technologies, climate conditions, and socio-demographic shifts?
  • What emerging social trends, routines, and lifestyles will influence electricity demand and inform energy sector planning?
  • How will climate change impacts - such as extreme weather and rising temperatures – affect household energy use and flexibility?
  • Which future households and consumers are most vulnerable in the energy transition, and how can policy, market, and community initiatives better support them?

Our approach

WP1 builds on the Digital Energy Futures (DEF) research, using advanced ethnographic methods to capture possible future real-life energy experiences across diverse households and home businesses. It will also create a ‘Living Lab,’ where participants engage with speculative designs for future energy services and products in WP5. Insights from WP1 will directly inform the evolving Scenarios for Future Living in WP3.

Research methods

  • Longitudinal ethnographic research with 36-44 households across six states/territories over three years, ensuring diverse socio-demographic, geographic, and housing/technology representation.
  • Living lab experiments where participants interact with prototype energy products and services, testing their usability, appeal, and real-world impact.
  • Ethnographic documentary video showcasing real household experiences to engage industry, policymakers, and the public.
  • National household survey (5,000+ participants) conducted three times over the project, capturing emerging lifestyle and energy trends.
  • Collaboration with Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) and CSIRO, integrating key survey questions to ensure whole-of-sector relevance.

Key outputs

  • Residential Energy Futures Reports (Years 1 and 3) – providing new foresight relating to future household energy use and future energy practice scenarios.
  • Documentary Film (Year 3) – delivering engaging, real-world narratives to inform industry, policymakers, and the public.

Through WP1, we will bridge the gap between social research and energy planning, ensuring that diverse household needs are reflected in the future energy system design.