Motivations for energy efficiency refurbishment in owner‐occupied housing

Abstract

Purpose -The existing housing stock needs substantial adaptation to meet national and international carbon reduction targets. The largest proportion of housing is owner-occupied, and will require improvement works which go beyond those measures provided through the Green Deal and similar programmes. Therefore, the motivation of owner-occupiers to perform more substantial energy efficiency refurbishments is essential to facilitate greater action. This paper aims to address these issues. Design/methodology/approach -A synthesis of the extant literature from a range of disciplines reveals the role of motivation and the factors influencing motivation and pro-environmental action in the context of the home. Based on this synthesis of the literature, a new motivation model for energy efficiency refurbishment in the owner-occupied housing stock is then described. Findings -The study has found that multiple factors affect motivation to refurbish in the owneroccupied housing stock. Key motivations for energy efficient refurbishment can be categorized into the broad themes of economic, social, and environmental motivations. These motivations will be affected by a wide number of interrelated internal and external factors and mediated by the emotions of the individual. The model presented demonstrates the relationship between the multiple factors that affect energy efficiency refurbishment in relation to specific contexts. Originality/value -The study represents a potential addition to motivational theory and concepts for use within the field of energy efficient refurbishment of the owner-occupied housing stock. Implications for future government policy and towards raising the motivation of owner-occupiers are identified: it can be used to shape national and local policy and information campaigns to motivate energy efficiency refurbishment in the owner-occupied housing stock. To be successful, this should take differing internal factors and contexts into consideration and the dynamic nature of owneroccupier motivation. The model can also be used by industry professionals to better understand the owner-occupier customer motivations for energy efficiency refurbishment and therein provide a better service.

Organizational Challenges in the Adoption of Building Applied Photovoltaics in the Swedish Tenant-Owner Housing Sector

“…The motives for energy efficiency measures in the housing sector such as the installation of BAPV, depend on factors of an economic, social, or environmental character [16]. The decision to install a PV system on the roof of a house may depend on the wish by the homeowner to satisfy a number of needs that may relate to subsistence, belongingness, participation, home improvement, identity and the freedom of achieving relative independence from power companies [24].…”

“…However, in the presence of negative emotions such as mistrust concerning the professional advice; doubts about one's ability to manage the system; or a strong loss aversion, there is less likelihood of carrying out the activity [16]. Within tenant-owner cooperatives, the determinants of actions towards energy efficiency have been identified as consisting of predisposing factors (awareness, knowledge, norms, attitudes and the organization's perception of its own capacity to improve its energy efficiency); enabling factors (essentially of a contextual character e.g., the existence of expert advice, and subsidies) and reinforcing factors (e.g., feedback from external stakeholders).…”

“…Literature on the adoption of renewable energy technologies in the built environment covers various types of housing owners, buildings and properties, such as housing associations in the Netherlands [5,15]; public municipal housing companies in Sweden [3]; owner-occupier housing [16][17][18][19]; and office buildings [14]. Factors affecting the adoption of PV in the built environment have been presented in a number of studies [20][21][22][23][24].…”

A conceptual framework for understanding behaviours and attitudes around ‘Blue-Green’ approaches to Flood-Risk Management

“…Social motivations include notions of comfort, people's sense of the role of their 'home' ('a platform for activities, social interactions, a haven, etc.' [37]), social norms, what is seen as 'acceptable behavior' and fashions and tastes of people's social groups, and people's 'locus of control', the extent to which they feel able to affect change through their own actions [37]. Environmental motivations will encompass people's sense of the positive effects stemming from a blue-green approach and will be tied up with their sense of self ('social' motivation).…”

“…Motivations can be broadly divided into external and internal: external (extrinsic) motivations will come from outside the agent, as fines or subsidies, threats of litigation, or rewards, whilst internal (intrinsic) motivations would depend on self-identity, needs, desires, aspirations and beliefs, the selfsatisfaction or self-worth derived from performing (or not) tasks (Organ [37]). Organ provides a comprehensive literature review of motivation theories and tailors these for looking at household energy efficiency refurbishments.…”