User Attitude Toward a Novel Smart Heating System

Abstract

The paper presents the results of an accompanying socio-scientific research of a one-year field test in a multiple dwelling, in which the energy saving potential of a newly developed smart heating system was examined. To draw conclusions about the user’s acceptance of the smart heating system, the residents of the test object were surveyed in terms of their attitude towards the smart heating system. With regard to user acceptance, we state an ambivalent relationship of the users to the new technology. On the one hand, they are delighted with the system and the increased comfort concerning room temperature. On the other hand, they think that the costs will increase with higher comfort. The analysis shows that adopting a new technology goes along with different, partly competing attitudes.