Exploring residential space use patterns and potentials for change: Findings from a multi-country survey

The residential sector significantly contributes to total energy consumption in the European Union. Over the past decades, the average floor area per person has increased steadily, resulting in higher energy demand for building materials, heating and cooling. However, the distribution of floor area is not equal across different demographic groups and household compositions. Redistributing floor area offers a significant opportunity to save resources and reduce the need for new construction by avoiding unnecessary consumption. Strategies such as moving, sharing and rearranging can facilitate this redistribution in the residential sector. In order to assess the feasibility of these strategies, this paper examines the current residents’ behaviour in the residential sector regarding space use and explores the potential for change. It draws on empirical data from an online survey conducted in Germany, Sweden, Poland and Portugal. By conducting a cluster analysis of the collected data, the paper identifies two groups with the highest potential for change in residential space use. It examines their willingness to change their space use patterns and investigates the acceptance of specific strategies that could lead to a reduction in the need for new construction in the residential sector. In order to promote more efficient use of space in the residential sector, the paper recommends encouraging space sharing, supporting structural changes in dwellings, and providing incentives for moving from under-occupied dwellings. It advocates for the implementation of tailored policies that consider the characteristics of each group, along with targeted awareness-raising efforts to increase policy acceptance.