Seminar held: 26th July 2017
Ruth Lane, Monash University , Australia and DEMAND visitor
Communications Technology, Life course Transitions and Energy Demand
Research findings from the Wealth from the Waste research project at Monash University highlight the significance of both age and life course transitions in the numbers and usage of various types of electronic communications devices in Australian households. I will present key findings on the use of web-connected communications devices arising from survey and interview work and explore their relevance to energy demand. Life stage transitions appear to be strongly linked with change in both the types and numbers of devices as well as product lifespans. However I will argue that what devices are used for is critical for understanding their potential to both contribute to and mitigate energy consumption in society.