Energy meters data reveals: individuals sleep extended hours during the crisis period
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, daily routines in German cities have undergone significant changes due to lockdowns, social distancing, and work-from-home measures. These shifts have had a noticeable impact on patterns of electricity and water consumption, albeit with some regional differences.
While comprehensive data on consumption changes across German cities is limited, it is well-established that the pandemic led to increased residential electricity and water use due to extended home stays, more cooking, cleaning, and digital device use. On the other hand, commercial consumption has decreased due to the closure of offices, shops, and schools.
In Würzburg, Nuremberg, and Augsburg, morning electricity consumption is either increasing more slowly or not significantly later. However, in Augsburg, the increase in electricity consumption in the morning starts about an hour later than usual. Leipzig and Hamburg have reported similar delays in the morning peak for electricity consumption.
Interestingly, Hamburg residents are using the most water between 9:30 and 10:00 am on weekdays, compared to 7:45 to 8:15 am before the Corona crisis. Hamburg Wasser has noticed a shift in water consumption, with the morning peak for water use moving from 7:45 to 8:15 am to between 9:30 and 10:00 am.
Meanwhile, utility companies in cities such as Munich, Augsburg, Leipzig, and the Ruhr region have reported that residents are waking up and taking showers later than usual during the pandemic. This trend is consistent with people working from home, saving time on their commute, and starting their day later.
Intriguingly, Munich's network operator M-Net has observed a 50 percent increase in landline phone usage, suggesting a resurgence of this traditional technology during the pandemic. Additionally, gaming traffic has increased by 50 percent compared to February, according to industry sources.
Despite the changes, not all cities have observed shifts in their electricity consumption patterns. Utility companies in Münster, for instance, are not noticing a shift in electricity consumption. Some cities, like Bremen, do not separate private and commercial consumption for analysis, limiting the availability of detailed data.
In Dresden, despite the later peak in electricity and water consumption, residents are still half an hour earlier than Hamburg residents in their new routines. These unexplained regional differences highlight the complexity of understanding the impact of the pandemic on daily routines and utility consumption across German cities.
In conclusion, the pandemic-induced shifts in daily routines across German cities have resulted in increased residential consumption of electricity and water, while commercial consumption has decreased, reflecting changed human behaviour and occupancy patterns. Detailed city-level quantitative studies would be required for exact consumption figures. The available literature confirms major disruptions in daily life routines, healthcare, social, and economic adjustments in Germany during COVID-19.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, a trend has emerged with residents in Munich, Augsburg, Leipzig, and the Ruhr region taking showers later than usual, likely due to working from home and saving commute time.
- The pandemic has also brought about lifestyle changes, as evidenced in Hamburg where water consumption patterns have shifted, with the morning peak for water use moving from early morning to around 9:30 and 10:00 am on weekdays.
- Home-and-garden activities, such as gameplay, have seen a significant increase during the pandemic, with industry sources reporting a 50 percent surge in gaming traffic compared to February, suggesting a rediscovery of traditional pastimes in the new normal.
