Climate events including floods and heat waves will likely increase energy hardship for many Australians, according to a new report from Monash University researchers.
According to the Household and home businesses research: Emerging lifestyles, preference and practices report, 38 per cent of respondents had difficulty paying their energy bills or meeting essential needs in the past year, rising to 54 per cent among people living in self-reported climate-risk zones.
The study showed that energy hardship is also a matter of health and safety. As climate risks increase, more households will likely struggle to cool their homes during heatwaves or power medical devices and stay connected during outages.
The report is based on research from the Scenarios for Future Living project led by researchers from Monash’s Emerging Technologies Research Lab, which surveyed more than 5,000 Australians between April and May.
The survey examined how Australians’ living situations, routines and preferences are shaping energy use and influencing the transition to renewable energy.
Lead author of the research Dr Fareed Kaviani said climate pressures are increasing inequalities in Australia’s energy system.
“Energy hardship is no longer just about affordability. It is about whether households can stay safe and well as extreme weather becomes more frequent,” Dr Kaviani said.
“Without targeted policies and support, the gap between those who can invest in clean technologies and those who cannot will only widen.”
The report also found that Australians are increasingly open to smart technologies such as automated appliances, but most still want to retain control over how these systems operate.
Sociologist and report co-author Professor Yolande Strengers said the findings show that trust and control will be central to how households engage with smart energy systems in the future.
“People want technology that works with them, not around them,” Professor Strengers said.
“As climate pressures grow, automation can play an important role in keeping homes safe and energy systems stable, but only if households feel confident, they can step in when they need to.”