European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3HD, UK.
Environment and Sustainability Institute, Penryn Campus, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 25;18(13):6818. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18136818.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the UK Government provided public health to stay at home from 16 March 2020, followed by to stay at home (full lockdown) from 24 March 2020. We use data with high temporal resolution from utility sensors installed in 280 homes across social housing in Cornwall, UK, to test for changes in domestic electricity, gas and water usage in response to government guidance. Gas usage increased by 20% following advice to stay at home, the week before full lockdown, although no difference was seen during full lockdown itself. During full lockdown, morning electricity usage shifted to later in the day, decreasing at 6 a.m. and increasing at midday. These changes in energy were echoed in water usage, with a 17% increase and a one-hour delay in peak morning usage. Changes were consistent with people getting up later, spending more time at home and washing more during full lockdown. Evidence for these changes was also observed in later lockdowns, but not between lockdowns. Our findings suggest more compliance with an enforced stay-at-home message than with advice. We discuss implications for socioeconomically disadvantaged households given the indication of inability to achieve increased energy needs during the pandemic.
针对 COVID-19 疫情，英国政府于 2020 年 3 月 16 日发布了公众在家的指令，随后于 2020 年 3 月 24 日发布了在家（全面封锁）的指令。我们利用英国康沃尔郡社会住房中安装的公用事业传感器提供的具有高时间分辨率的数据，测试了家庭用电量、燃气量和供水量的变化，以响应政府的指导。在全面封锁之前的一周，由于建议留在家中，燃气使用量增加了 20%，尽管在全面封锁期间没有差异。在全面封锁期间，早晨的用电量转移到了一天中的晚些时候，6 点时减少，中午时增加。能源使用方面的这些变化在用水量上也得到了体现，峰值早晨用水量增加了 17%，并延迟了一个小时。这些变化表明，在全面封锁期间，人们起床较晚，在家时间更长，洗澡次数更多。在后来的封锁中也观察到了这些变化，但在封锁之间没有观察到。我们的研究结果表明，与建议相比，人们更遵守强制留在家中的信息。鉴于在大流行期间无法满足增加的能源需求的迹象，我们讨论了这对社会经济弱势群体家庭的影响。
