Homeowners are seeking energy efficiency but overlooking the critical changes needed to cut down energy consumption, according to a new survey by Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation.
The third edition of its consumer survey revealed that 87% of Australian homeowners ranked energy efficiency as the most important home improvement change, but 60% were hesitant to implement smart home technologies due to high upfront costs. Cost of living pressures also affected consumers' priority when it comes to achieving energy independence, with less than one in four (23%) Aussies believing it's a top priority compared to 79% a year ago.
The survey polled 13,000 people from 11 countries worldwide, including 1000 respondents from Australia. The findings revealed a prevailing trend worldwide: the younger generation (people aged between 18 and 34) is the most energy-conscious cohort. Young homeowners are willing to spend the most (avg. $1,949.70) to upgrade home energy efficiency solutions, which is 30% higher than the national average ($1,497).
Gap between awareness and action
Notably, this year's results highlight a wide gap between awareness and action. Only 32% of Australian respondents noted reducing their carbon footprint was a top priority, with recycling efforts (59%) being a significant personal commitment to reducing carbon emissions. Just 28% intended to switch to a renewable energy supply for their homes.
Encouragingly, Australians have intentions to reduce their household energy use this winter, with 61% of homeowners turning off lights as their primary strategy for saving energy, 50% by unplugging unused chargers, and 50% by unplugging unused electric items. However, such small behavioural changes have little effect on reducing energy consumption. For instance, lighting only comprises around 10-15% of electricity bills, and unplugging chargers also has minimal impact - saving only $ 0.26 per charger annually.
The survey also shows an awareness gap for more traditional home technology. Consumers have the power to take control of their energy consumption through at-home upgrades, despite 69% of consumers believing national governments are responsible for reducing emissions. This misconception is causing a delay in action among consumers.
AI and home energy technology
For the first time, the survey explored attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI). The past 18 months have seen an explosion in the types of artificial intelligence (AI) tools available to everyday consumers. Despite predictions that AI and automation could help mitigate up to 10% of global GHG emissions, respondents globally are hesitant to implement it into daily automation routines. 53% of Australians said they would never rely on AI for household tasks, 42% don't fully understand it, and 47% want to actively avoid it. As AI becomes increasingly ubiquitous in daily use, trends suggest that familiarity may eventually lead to more homeowners' willingness to embrace AI in the home.
Despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures, Australian homeowners are still willing to invest in smart home technology. While 59% of consumers nationwide perceive smart home technology as too expensive, Australian households plan to invest in smart technology—demonstrating a strong commitment to long-term sustainability and cost savings. However, barriers remain in the adoption of smart home solutions, including high costs (60%), vulnerability to cyberattacks (53%) and complexity in use (50%).
"Homeowners are eager to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency, but a significant gap remains between intention and action," said Chris Kerr, Vice President & CEO of Clipsal by Schneider Electric. "While the technology to enhance home energy efficiency is readily available, many are unaware of the most effective ways to implement it. By embracing greater electrification and digitisation, households can better monitor, control, and transition their energy use to more renewable sources."
