Three-year study into future homes

Researchers from Monash University surveyed forty-nine participants across Australia to understand what Australians expect from their homes in the years to come.

Working from home drives space needs

Half of surveyed households had one member working from home at least once a week. Participants wanted dedicated working spaces, combining office zones with other parts of their homes.

Flexible rooms without bigger houses

University of Sydney associate professor Jungsoo Kim says new homes could include adaptable rooms with visual and acoustic separation, good daylight, ventilation and access to power.

“Some people need visual and acoustic privacy for concentration, meetings, or confidential conversations, while others may work effectively in shared, open areas.”

Why working from home matters

Jane from Victoria said working from home meant not worrying about traffic or cancelled trains. Andrew from South Australia valued the flexibility to manage childcare and home tasks.

“It's so much easier when you work from home. You don't have to worry about traffic being terrible to get you to work.”

Electric vehicles remain out of reach

One quarter of survey participants felt they could not afford electric vehicles, from purchasing to maintaining and installing chargers. Only four percent of those earning less than forty thousand dollars a year owned or intended to own an EV.

“I think it's a great idea but they're so bloody expensive. Like who can afford to buy a brand new electric car?”

Income gap in EV ownership widens

Twenty-two percent of people earning more than two hundred forty-one thousand dollars a year said they owned or intended to own an EV, compared to four percent earning under forty thousand dollars.

Solar power adoption tied to income

One in three Australian homes has rooftop solar, with about three hundred thousand systems installed annually. Households earning under eighty thousand dollars were more likely to report having no intention of installing solar.

Cost-of-living crisis blocks energy transition

Some survey participants felt excluded from the energy transition because purchases of electric vehicles and solar infrastructure felt targeted to more affluent groups. One participant imagined living in their car rather than buying an EV.

“The cost-of-living crisis is an important dimension in the energy transition.”

Affordable charging and power needed

About one third of households that owned or planned to purchase an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid wanted affordable charging options, such as solar power or off-peak electricity tariffs.