A new paper from the iDODDLE team presents findings from the living lab which studied households over more than a year as they adopted an automated vacuum cleaner, combining time-use diaries, energy monitoring, app data and interviews. We show that automation doesn’t simply replace human effort: it reshapes everyday routines. While manual cleaning time fell, cleaning happened more often and for longer, and energy demand was often layered rather than reduced. The energy impacts of automation depended less on the device itself and more on how it became embedded in daily life. These findings highlight why understanding behaviour and routines is essential when designing smart technologies and policies for low-carbon homes.
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