Energy Consumption, drivers and inhibitors – How does the Australian business market react?   Sydney, 3 November 09
Connection Research has launched the most comprehensive analysis available on the energy consumption of the Australian business market, based on a direct survey of over 1000 companies. 

Datacom achieves highest Green IT Readiness Index to date   Sydney, 27 October 2009  Leading IT professional services company Datacom has achieved the highest rating yet achieved by any organisation in the RMIT University-Connection Research Green IT Readiness Index. In a study conducted in October 2009, Datacom achieved a rating of 72.9 (out of 100), substantially higher than the Australian cross-industry average of 39.5

Industry's First Green IT Training Program   Sydney, 27 May 2009  EXCOM Education and Connection Research have joined forces to develop and deliver the industry's range of Green IT training courses in Australian and New Zealand, with immediate expansion into international markets. The ground-breaking courses mark a cooperative effort between former foes in the IT analysis field.

The "Green Collar Worker" Defined   Sydney, 26 May 2009 A new report has been released which attempts to define the elusive "Green Collar Worker". The term is increasingly being used to describe people working in the environmental and sustainability sectors, but until now there has been no attempt to define just who these people are.

New Community Sustainability Research Service   Sydney, 20 May 2009 Connection Research has released a Community Sustainability continuous research service, covering consumer usage of and attitudes towards energy usage, water, waste and technology in the home. The annual service comprises a major report in each of these sectors, a monthly research update on each area, and the Australian Atlas of Domestic Sustainability.

Aussies love technology - new Digital Atlas launched  Sydney, 15 April 2009 New report shows Australians love technology, but purchase and consumption patterns differ depending on income level, family type and location.

Climate Change - A bigger problem to the world, a smaller problem to me  Sydney,08 April 2009 New report shows Australians are less inclined to believe that climate change is something that affects them personally than they are to believe that it is a generalized problem.

CIOs say they want green - But they aren't green Sydney, 17 March 2009  Australia's IT managers and CIOs are very green. They are concerned about climate change, and they see IT as being a key driver on reducing their orgainsations's carbon footprint. But they are not doing very much about it.

Dual flush toilets - how useful?   Sydney, 9 February 2009 The NSW State Government's recently announced $16m program to help householders replace single flush toilets with dual flush models is unlikely to have a significant effect in reducing water consumption in the state, new report on domestic water usage in Australia shows.

Aussies love technology - new Digital Atlas launched

Sydney, 15 April 2009

Australians love technology. Last year we bought over a million LCD and plasma TVs. Most households are now on broadband Internet, and more than half watch digital TV. DVD players and digital cameras are almost ubiquitous.

But the technology is not evenly distributed. Wealthier people buy more than those at the opposite end of the income spectrum. Households with children buy more games consoles. City dwellers are more likely than those in the bush to subscribe to pay TV.

Connection Research has released The Australian Digital Atlas 2009, which shows where the technology is installed, and where the demand is coming from. A totally new concept in market analysis in Australia, the Atlas marries Australian Bureau of Statistics census data with primary analysis from Connection Research's Connected Home surveys. The result is the most detailed overview ever released of Australians' usage of, and demand for, digital technology.

" Did you know that Tasmania has the highest penetration of digital TV of any state, just ahead of the ACT but behind pockets of Brisbane and the northern suburbs of Sydney. Adelaide has the lowest usage rate of any major city.

" Did you know that PC ownership is generally higher in the bush than in the cities, though cities have a higher proportion of laptops (especially Sydney). Many more laptops than desktops were purchased last year, and most PC-using households now have more than one machine.

" Did you know that more than 90% of Australian homes now have at least one digital camera, and more than one third have a digital camcorder. Camera usage is universal, and camcorders are more likely to be owned in wealthier and in migrant households.

The Australian Digital Atlas 2009 analyses the ownership rates for each of 13 different digital technologies for each of Australia's 65 statistical Regions, then aggregates them by State, metro vs Regional, and across Australia as a whole to highlight regional characteristics. Further detailed analysis by income level, population density, family type, home ownership and dwelling type - across each State and across all of Australia - gives a truly comprehensive view of technology usage in Australia. Regions are ranked by their usage of each technology, and their demand for those technologies.

The data from the Connected Home reports is totally original Australian research data, based on an annual survey of Australian households. In the most recent survey, over 4000 households were polled. This is the largest survey every undertaken in Australia of domestic technology usage. The census data is based on information in the ABS 2006 Australian census, updated where possible. The survey data is based on a representative survey of over 4000 Australian households conducted in November 2008. All care has been taken to weight the survey data so that it reflects census demographics. Sophisticated statistical modelling techniques have been used to determine the degree of certainty of the findings.

The Australian Digital Atlas 2009 contains nearly 200 pages of detailed analysis. There is a double page spread for each of Australia's 65 statistical regions, and a further double page spread for metro and regional in each state, and for Australia as a whole. These geographical analyses are supplemented by extensive analysis by household income, household type and other demographics, ranking states and Statistical Regions by a range of factors and highlighting market gaps and opportunities. It is available for $4500, plus 10% GST.

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Climate Change - A bigger problem to the world, a smaller problem to me

New report shows Australians are less inclined to believe that climate change is something that affects them personally than they are to believe that it is a generalized problem.

Sydney, 08 April 2009

More than three quarters of Australians accept that climate change is a major problem to the plant, though fewer think it will affect them personally. Nearly half of them are prepared to pay more for their energy to help tackle climate change, though few are prepared to make too many sacrifices.

The findings are found in the new report Domestic Energy Consumption in Australia, the latest in Connection Research's Sustainable Home series. The report is based on a survey of over 3500 Australian consumers, conducted in October and November 2008. They were asked about the number of electric and electronic devices in their homes, about their energy consumption habits, and about their attitudes to a number of sustainability issues.

"At the same time we are filling our homes with energy-consuming equipment, we are becoming increasingly aware of the consequences," says research director Graeme Philipson. "But not all of us are prepared to do anything about it."

Two thirds of the consumers believe that they and their household are doing enough to conserve energy, but only one third thinks their community is doing enough, and less than one in six thinks society as a whole is doing enough.

"The further we get from home, the lower the perception that others are pulling their weight," says Philipson. "This ties in with the finding that most people think they are greener than their neighbours. More than 40% believe their household consumes less electricity per person than the average Australian household, and only 10% believe they are consuming more than average."

The report also examined ownership rates of various electrical and electronic devices. Usage of plasma and LCD TVs continues to rise as prices drop and the perception changes from luxury to necessity. Flat panel TVs are now found in more than half of all households, compared to just one third a year ago. Most are connected to an amplifier or some sort of home cinema system. Most homes have at least one PC, and more than half have two or more. Laptop PCs are now more popular than desktops, and most of these computers have a printer.

Nearly half of all Australian households have more than one fridge. About half have a dishwasher. Two thirds have a clothes dryer, and two thirds a stand-alone freezer. Nearly half have reverse cycle air conditioning, but fewer than 10% have solar hot water.

They know they have a lot of gadgets and devices, but most people do try to conserve energy. More than three quarters say they hang washing on the line when possible rather than use a clothes dryer, and a similar number try to switch off light switches more than they used to, and turn their computers off when they are not in use. But only one third turn devices off at the wall to save on stand-by power.

The report looks at many other aspects of behaviour and consumption. A consistent picture emerges, of an affluent society awash with labour saving devices and entertainment systems and creature comforts.

"There is a strong awareness that all this luxury comes at some cost to the environment," says Philipson, "and there is a desire to do the right thing. But most people believe they are doing more than they actually are".


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CIOs Say they want green - But they aren't green