COVID-19 triggered residential behavioral changes and electricity consumption of detached houses in Japan

Many studies conducted previously have reported that due to lockdowns or stay-at-home orders associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020 residential power consumption has increased in countries, particularly in cities worldwide. This study compared the power consumption of 1,339 detached houses in Japan over the past three years as well as a year after the pandemic and analyzed living behavioral changes in the 12 months after the pandemic using a questionnaire survey of occupants. As of March 2021, which is after 12 months of the beginning of the pandemic, it was confirmed that the way of life had returned to almost normal, and as a factor in increasing consumption, working from home would remain the only behavioral change that may take root in Japanese society.

Automated summary

Previous studies have shown that residential power consumption has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in cities, due to lockdowns and stay-at-home orders. This study compared the power consumption of 1,339 detached houses in Japan over the past three years and a year after the pandemic, and analyzed changes in living behaviors through a questionnaire survey. As of March 2021, after 12 months of the pandemic, it was found that the lifestyle had almost returned to normal, with working from home being the only behavioral change that may continue to affect power consumption in Japanese society.