| ID | 150769 |
| Title Proper | Switching from fossil fuel to renewables in residential heating systems |
| Other Title Information | an empirical study of homeowners' decisions in Germany |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Madlener, Reinhard ; Michelsen, Carl Christian |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | The replacement of outdated and inefficient fossil fuel residential heating systems (RHS) by more efficient and less CO2-intensive appliances primarily based on renewable energy sources is an important pillar for the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy system. This paper empirically investigates drivers and barriers behind homeowners' decisions to switch from a fossil fuel to a renewable RHS in Germany. For this purpose, we draw on data from a 2010 questionnaire survey among owners of existing single-family and duplex houses in Germany that had received a financial grant to install an RHS (i.e. condensing boiler with solar thermal support, heat pump or wood pellet boiler). We show that environmental protection, a lower dependency on fossil fuels, and a higher degree of RHS-related knowledge are key drivers. In contrast, the perceived difficulty of getting used to the system and a misunderstanding of its principal functioning are obstacles for the heat pump. For the wood pellet boiler, perceived barriers include the low usability, the labor-intensive operation, and the systems' fault liability. Hence, a higher replacement rate requires the willingness to relinquish old habits and perceptions of how an RHS works and operates. |
| `In' analytical Note | Energy Policy Vol. 89, No.89; Feb 2016: p.95–105 |
| Journal Source | Energy Policy 2016-02 89, 89 |
| Key Words | Consumer Choice ; Private Households ; Residential Heating Systems ; Technology Replacement ; Adoption Barriers |