Electricity consumption in summer houses - survey and prognosis

The objective of this project was to analyse the consequences for electricity consumption resulting from increased use of holiday cottages throughout the year. The project was carried out through four stages: 1. Extrapolating the development of electricity consumption for the next decade; 2. Outline of electricity consumption in different kinds of holiday cottages; 3. Model extension with examples of technically based potentials for saving ; 4. Setting up scenarios with examples of measures for reducing the electricity consumption. It was found that the electricity consumption in holiday cottages will continue to increase, if nothing is done to prevent this. It was also found that different kinds of summer cottages represent a large variety of electricity consumption. By setting up scenarios it was found that more holiday time and more use throughout the year by senior citizens will give an extra surplus to the electricity consumption. In contrast, many new cottages for luxury use will make no difference. To reducing electricity consumption in holiday cottages however, it was found that only a massive 'armament' with renewals will be capable of reducing the electricity consumption