Air-conditioning in low income households; a comparison of ownership, use, energy consumption and indoor comfort in Australia: Fid-Bau Portal

Air-conditioning in low income households; a comparison of ownership, use, energy consumption and indoor comfort in Australia

Goldsworthy, Mark / Poruschi, Lavinia

Abstract

Highlights • Air-conditioner ownership and use statistics from ∼8500 dwellings are analysed. • Low income households were more likely to live in smaller, older dwellings. • Low income is linked with older age which was a better indicator of behaviour. • Older dwellings use more energy in mild conditions but less in hot conditions. • Occupants in older dwellings report more heating use but the same cooling use.

Abstract Air-conditioning and energy use are important topics at present, particularly in Australia where rising electricity prices and a changing climate are placing increasing strain on one of the world's longest interconnected electricity networks. At the same time, there is a concern that some consumers are particularly vulnerable to these changes. This study analyses three data-sets consisting of energy use and survey information from several thousand households, with the aim of better understanding the ownership, use, energy consumption and comfort outcomes related to air-conditioning in low income households in Australia. The findings suggest that low income households do tend to own different types of air-conditioning appliances, are more likely to reside in different types of buildings, be located in non-metropolitan areas, and belong to an older age demographic. These differences may have a greater influence on air-conditioning use behaviours (including energy use and comfort), than simply the fact that a household has a low income. Hence it is suggested that potential vulnerability measures should not be based on income alone.