ENERGO 2004 Survey

The main purpose of the whole survey was to obtain as large as possible quantities of data concerning parameters, availability, energy intensity and operational expenses of dwellings (households).

The survey built on the experience gained from the preceding ENERGO 1997 pilot survey which was organized in 1997 by EUROSTAT for 10 Central and Eastern European candidate countries, [6000 dwellings, six page questionnaire for CR, in which in addition were surveyed recreational facilities, more cars and motorcycles) according to EU methodology, all funded by European Commission].

The ENERGO 2004 survey was carried wholly under the administration of the Czech Statistical Office (CzSO).

The data were being gathered via a field (“face-to-face“) survey in which interviewers of the CzSO gradually visited the selected households and helped in filling in the questionnaires.

The survey was conducted on a sample of 40,000 households which represent about 1 % of permanently occupied dwellings in the CR (there were 3,668,360 permanently occupied dwellings in the CR in 2003).

The sample was chosen to match the structure of the population and data gained from the survey were processed by random two-stage sampling according to specified parameters: urban /rural localities, dwellings in family houses/multi-dwelling buildings, space heating in dwellings district/urban and central/individual, the share of fuels and energy used being maintained.

One of the main objectives of the survey was to establish availability of electrical appliances ensuring current needs of households (so-called "white ware" - e.g. washing machine/dryer, refrigerator/freezer, dish-washer and others), further then of other electric appliances, i.e. TV set, lighting, PC etc., including their average age.

In the table below we may find the results for that sample:

Appliance / Locality / Total
Urban / Rural
Availibility
[% of households] / Average age [years] / Availibility
[% of households] / Average age [years] / Availibility
[% of households] / Average age [years]
Fridge / 99.4 / 9.1 / 99.3 / 9.9 / 99.2 / 9.5
Freezer / 67.1 / 7.9 / 80.0 / 9.0 / 70.0 / 8.5
El. cooker&oven / 31.7 / 9.8 / 49.8 / 10.0 / 35.9 / 9.9
Microwave oven / 70.8 / 4.8 / 74.0 / 4.9 / 71.6 / 4.9
Dishwasher / 13.9 / 3.5 / 10.7 / 3.4 / 13.2 / 3.5
Automatic washing machine / 89.3 / 7.7 / 86.0 / 7.4 / 88.4 / 7.5
Washer-Drier / 2.1 / 5.0 / 1.1 / 5.0 / 1.9 / 5.0
Colour TV / 97.6 / 7.1 / 97.0 / 7.4 / 97.3 / 7.3
Air-conditioning / 0.3 / 3.8 / 0.2 / 4.3 / 0.3 / 4.1
PC / 35.9 / 3.7 / 29.9 / 3.7 / 34.4 / 3.7

Note: Combination of fridge-freezer has been marked as separate units, in case of cooker and oven, the data includes electric cooker with both electric and gas oven

The survey confirmed the assumption of (much) higher penetration of more comfort providing appliances such as dishwashers, washer-driers, air-conditioning, PC etc. in urban areas, especially in tha capital city of Prague where the purchasing power of citizens is significantly above the country’s average.

By comparing the data to the ENERGO 1997 survey, among major trends may be identified the decreasing average age of cooling equipment, especially of combinations of fridges-freezers of which sales dominates the present Czech market, and of washing machines as well. A “rejuvenation“ trend has been then also recorded by electric ovens.

The development of availibility of major domestic appliances in Czech households in the last ten years is shown in the graph below:

The subject of the survey was furthermore the calculation of electricity consumption on so called“incommutable uses“ such as lighting, operation of domestic appliances etc. The average amount of electric energy consumed for these pusposes was put at 1,360 kWh per household (cooking excluded). Unfortunately, no detailed division among individual appliances was calculated.