Research on the Driving Factors for the Application of Energy Performance Contracting in Public Institutions

Building energy efficiency in public institutions is crucial for achieving energy conservation and emissions reduction goals. The application of energy performance contracting (EPC) can effectively reduce energy consumption in these buildings and promote the development of the energy-saving service industry. However, there is a lack of initiative among public institutions to adopt EPC. This study aims to investigate the factors that drive the intention and behavior of public institutions to apply EPC and enhance their proactive engagement in building energy efficiency retrofitting. By considering the current status of EPC application in public institutions and drawing on relevant decision-making and behavioral theories, this paper identifies the key factors that drive the intention and behavior of public institutions, and constructs a theoretical model of the intentional and behavioral driving factors. In the empirical testing phase, research data are collected through online questionnaires. Structural equation modeling is employed to validate and analyze the extent of the driving factors and their interrelationships. The key findings are that (1) perceived usefulness, trust, and perceived risk significantly drive the behavior intention of public institutions to apply EPC; (2) perceived behavioral control and perceived ease of use significantly positively drive the behavior of public institutions, with behavior intention being the most influential factor; and (3) policy system and organizational support play a significant moderating role in the process from intention to behavior. Based on these findings, this paper proposes the critical tasks and suggests countermeasures for stakeholders in EPC projects.