Exploring attitudes, beliefs, and motives related to energy efficiency for buildings in Ireland and Italy

IF 6.9 2区经济学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Energy Research & Social Science Pub Date : 2025-02-01 DOI:10.1016/j.erss.2024.103913

Ferdinando Fornara , Sara Manca , Daniela Meleddu , Elisabetta Strazzera

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Buildings represent one of the leading energy consumers in the world and one of the largest CO₂ and particulate matter emitters, thus their impact is significant on both the environment and the human health. Heat pumps systems powered by renewable energy have been identified as a valid tool to address such a situation, but the diffusion of these energy efficient systems is still insufficient.

This qualitative research explores beliefs, attitudes, and motives related to specific energy efficiency technologies, based on in-depth interviews with experts of the building sector and focus groups with users, where the latter were also engaged in the assessment of an innovative integrated solar/heat pump system. Results point out the relevance of information sources and personal advantages, in terms of money savings and well-being, in driving the decision, while regulatory frameworks were identified as important contextual factors. Policy actions are suggested to support the creation of local services for technical information and assistance, in addition to financial aid for less advantaged households, in order to foster widespread diffusion of these technologies.

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来源期刊

Energy Research & Social Science ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES-

CiteScore

14.00

自引率

16.40%

发文量

441

审稿时长

55 days

期刊介绍： Energy Research & Social Science (ERSS) is a peer-reviewed international journal that publishes original research and review articles examining the relationship between energy systems and society. ERSS covers a range of topics revolving around the intersection of energy technologies, fuels, and resources on one side and social processes and influences - including communities of energy users, people affected by energy production, social institutions, customs, traditions, behaviors, and policies - on the other. Put another way, ERSS investigates the social system surrounding energy technology and hardware. ERSS is relevant for energy practitioners, researchers interested in the social aspects of energy production or use, and policymakers. Energy Research & Social Science (ERSS) provides an interdisciplinary forum to discuss how social and technical issues related to energy production and consumption interact. Energy production, distribution, and consumption all have both technical and human components, and the latter involves the human causes and consequences of energy-related activities and processes as well as social structures that shape how people interact with energy systems. Energy analysis, therefore, needs to look beyond the dimensions of technology and economics to include these social and human elements.