Decomposing the effects of time-use shifts on energy consumption

Technologies continue to change our daily lifestyles, influencing energy demand. In this article, we use daily time-use patterns as an indicator of lifestyle and attribute changes in energy use to changes in time-use. Using... [ view full abstract ]

Technologies continue to change our daily lifestyles, influencing energy demand. In this article, we use daily time-use patterns as an indicator of lifestyle and attribute changes in energy use to changes in time-use. Using the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) dataset, we first find changes in the time consumers are performing different activities. An index decomposition analysis is then used to measure the effects of these shifts in energy consumption patterns across sectors during the period 2003 – 2012. The results show that for an average American, time spent in residences increased at the rate of 3.1 minutes per day per year. This increase in time spent at home is balanced by decreased time spent for transportation (-0.4 min/day/year) and in non-residential buildings (-2.7 min/day/year). Increased TV watching, computer use, sleeping, and telework contribute to more time spent at home. Less time working at an office, eating out, and shopping (except groceries, food, and gas) contribute to less time spent in commercial buildings. The energy implication of this lifestyle change is that Americans are saving energy by spending more time at home. In numerical terms, national shifts in energy demand due to these time-use changes are: + 476 trillion BTU in residences, a -1,026 BTU in non-residential buildings, -1,172 trillion BTU in transportation. The additional energy use in homes is more than made up for by reduced energy in vehicles and commercial buildings. The net time-use change induced energy change of -1,722 trillion BTU is 1.8% of national primary energy consumption in 2012. We interpret this lifestyle/energy shift as primarily driven by information and communication technology, i.e. improved entertainment, online shopping and the ability to telework increases the utility of time spent at home.