Factors influencing residents’ energy use—A study of energy-related behaviour in 57 Swedish homes

•Diaries were used to collect time use for energy-related behaviour in Swedish homes.•Total energy use, indoor temperatures and water use were recorded.•Electronic equipment is turned on and used for long periods in our homes.•Long operating times with high typical power ratings characterise high consumers.•Several strategies to influence energy-related behaviours will probably be required. The aim of this work has been to study everyday energy-related behaviour in homes. All residents in 57 Swedish homes, living in three housing areas, have recorded time diaries over a period of four days, during the same time period in each area. The technical differences between the houses are limited, as the building designs within each housing area are the same. On an aggregated level, the diary data has been analysed with and without typical power data of appliances as well as in relation to measured total energy use, indoor temperature and water usage. Cluster analyses have been performed in order to find characteristics of groups of residents with regard to their energy-related behaviour. Some of the findings were that residents report long time use/operating time for activities related to electronic equipment (45% of total reported time). Residents which used energy to a greater extent than others were characterised by performing activities with long operating times, in combination with high, and fairly high, typical power ratings. The majority of residents showed many different energy-related behaviours, which indicates that a number of strategies to influence the behaviours – not just one – will be required.