Beyond Technology Adoption: Homeowner Satisfaction with Newly Adopted Residential Heating Systems

Carl Christian Michelsen () and Reinhard Madlener
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Carl Christian Michelsen: E.ON Energy Research Center, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN), http://www.eonerc.rwth-aachen.de/fcn

No 1/2015, FCN Working Papers from E.ON Energy Research Center, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN)

Abstract: In this paper we study homeowner satisfaction with respect to innovative residential heating systems. In particular, we focus on the role of attributes of the home, homeowners’ socio-demographic characteristics, RHS-related knowledge, and adoption motivations. For this purpose, we apply a linear regression model on a dataset obtained from a survey among homeowners in Germany (N=2,135) that had adopted a RHS shortly before the survey was conducted. Moreover, we investigate differences between groups of homeowners by means of t-tests and ANOVA. Our research shows that the motivations for adopting an RHS are relevant factors explaining satisfaction with newly adopted RHS. Moreover, we find the degree of RHS-related knowledge relevant as well. Socio-demographic aspects – such as age, university degree, gender or income – are found to be less important. In particular, the preference to have an RHS that is compatible with daily habits and routines has a strong impact on satisfaction. We also find differences between groups of adopters. Specifically, adopters of a gas-fired condensing boiler or a heat pump are less satisfied than adopters of a wood pellet-fired boiler. The findings of this study may also contribute to a better understanding of factors influencing the word to mouth communication resulting in the uptake and diffusion of certain RHS over time.

Keywords: customer satisfaction; user satisfaction; post-adoption behavior; space heating (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C20 D12 O33 Q41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 27 pages
Date: 2015-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem and nep-ene
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ris:fcnwpa:2015_001

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