Energy and society are intricately linked, so tightly so that electricity usage data can serve as a bellwether for economic growth or collapse. The stay-at-home orders issued to protect the population from exposure to the COVID-19 are also reshaping the way we live and work, with potentially significant and lasting impacts to how we use electricity. At the same time, keeping electricity flowing is critical to a functioning healthcare system and the broader social system. This Working Group will explore these changes in electricity usage and what they might mean for society going forward.
CONVERGE is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation, Program on Humans, Disasters, and the Built Environment (Award #1841338). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.