Tech solutions for energy savings face slow uptake – Report
Schneider Electric has identified a significant gap between homeowners’ awareness of energy efficiency and their adoption of technology-driven solutions to cut costs.
In its third consumer survey, detailed in a white paper titled ‘Evolving Home Energy Consumption: Intentions, Actions, and Hurdles to Greater Home Energy Efficiency,’ the company found that while 82 per cent of respondents consider energy efficiency important, 84 per cent see it as a top home improvement priority; many are not taking concrete steps to adopt energy-saving solutions.
The report, obtained by The PUNCH on Friday, surveyed 13,000 people across 11 countries. It found that despite rising energy costs and growing climate concerns, homeowners have been slow to adopt smart home technologies that could reduce consumption and lower bills.
The digital transformation energy firm attributed this reluctance to barriers such as cost, complexity, and lack of information.
Few homeowners take the most effective steps to cut energy use. Only 44 per cent regularly adjust their ambient temperature, one of the most impactful actions.
Meanwhile, 58 per cent of homeowners turn off lights as their primary energy-saving strategy, even though lighting accounts for only about five per cent of electricity costs.
The second-most common method, unplugging unused chargers (48 per cent), saves just $0.26 per charger annually, the report found.
Executive Vice President of Home & Distribution at Schneider Electric, Michael Gierges, said, “Consumers want to reduce their energy bill, increase their energy reliability, and improve energy efficiency in their homes.
“Yet, there exists a gap between intention and action. The technology to enhance home energy efficiency exists today, but there is a lack of awareness of the most impactful ways to deploy it.
“Through greater electrification and digitalisation, home energy use can be better measured, controlled, and transitioned to more renewable sources.”
The report highlights an overemphasis on lighting in home energy technology. While 52 per cent of consumers see smart lighting as an energy-efficient solution, only 24 per cent own one.
Meanwhile, just 21 per cent have a smart thermostat, and fewer than half (46 per cent) acknowledge its energy-saving benefits, despite evidence showing it could reduce bills by up to 30 per cent annually.
For the first time, the survey examined attitudes toward artificial intelligence. While AI and automation could help cut up to 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, 44 per cent of respondents said they would never rely on AI for household tasks, 35 per cent do not fully understand it, and 41 per cent actively avoid it.
Additionally, 52 per cent believe smart home technology is too expensive, even though connected homes can achieve energy savings of up to 22 per cent.
The survey also revealed a knowledge gap in traditional home technology. It found that 30 per cent of respondents do not know what their electrical panel does, and 16 per cent are unaware of its location.
