Sepanta, O’Brien, and Arpan studied the implications of space use changes made during the pandemic. They gathered data from people “who started teleworking and moved at least 20 kilometres away from their original homes within two years of the beginning of COVID-19. . . . The results of this study suggest most participants moved to bigger houses with dedicated offices in less accessible neighbourhoods, which prompted more vehicle purchases. . . . The interviews indicated that the overall energy use of participants has increased as a result of these changes.”
Farzam Sepanta, William O’Brien, and Laura Arpan. “Interview Study to Uncover the Energy Use Impacts and Behaviours of Teleworkers Who Relocated During COVID-19 in Canada.” Architectural Science Review, in press, https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2023.2253780