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Unravelling Dutch homeowners' behaviour towards energy efficiency renovations: What drives and hinders their decision-making?

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  • Ebrahimigharehbaghi, Shima
  • Qian, Queena K.
  • Meijer, Frits M.
  • Visscher, Henk J.

Abstract

The housing stock has a considerable share of 40% in energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions in the EU. In accordance to energy efficiency and emissions targets set by EU, The Netherlands has aimed to renovate 300,000 homes each year, leading to 50% reduction in CO2 emissions, by 2050. Many factors including low renovation rates create uncertainties in achieving these targets. The current study aims for understanding the barriers and drivers towards energy efficiency renovations (EERs) amongst Dutch homeowners, and to aid in gaining a better insight into the role of public authorities in promoting EERs. First, the extrinsic drivers, including policies and other initiatives in the EER process are explained. Second, the intrinsic drivers and intrinsic/extrinsic barriers are explored. Regression analyses are performed on the national Dutch survey data for renovators and potential renovators. Our main findings include: (a) desire to enhance the quality of their life, rather than the financial benefits, etc. is identified as the main driver; (b) the main barriers are the costs of EERs, complexities in the process, information barriers, and finding reliable experts and information; (c) For improvement in meeting renovation targets, the current Dutch policies need to consider all the decision criteria by homeowners, such as: Reducing the complexities; Time needed to obtain loans and subsidies; and Facilitating access to information.

Suggested Citation

  • Ebrahimigharehbaghi, Shima & Qian, Queena K. & Meijer, Frits M. & Visscher, Henk J., 2019. "Unravelling Dutch homeowners' behaviour towards energy efficiency renovations: What drives and hinders their decision-making?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 546-561.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:129:y:2019:i:c:p:546-561
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.02.046
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    2. Rolando Biere-Arenas & Silvia Spairani-Berrio & Yolanda Spairani-Berrio & Carlos Marmolejo-Duarte, 2021. "One-Stop-Shops for Energy Renovation of Dwellings in Europe—Approach to the Factors That Determine Success and Future Lines of Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-24, November.
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    5. Spyridon Karytsas & Eleni Theodoropoulou, 2023. "Awareness and Utilization of Incentive Programs for Household Energy-Saving Renovations: Empirical Findings from Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-23, September.
    6. Belaïd, Fateh & Flambard, Véronique, 2024. "Ecological-behavioral economics: Impact of information on energy-renovation decision through third-party investing," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    7. Alicja Małgorzata Graczyk, 2021. "Households Behaviour towards Sustainable Energy Management in Poland—The Homo Energeticus Concept as a New Behaviour Pattern in Sustainable Economics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-30, May.
    8. Peñasco, Cristina & Anadón, Laura Díaz, 2023. "Assessing the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures in the residential sector gas consumption through dynamic treatment effects: Evidence from England and Wales," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    9. Lundmark, Robert, 2022. "Time-adjusted transaction costs for energy renovations for single-family house-owners," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    10. Maia, Iná E.N. & Harringer, Daniel & Kranzl, Lukas, 2024. "Household budget restrictions as reason for staged retrofits: A case study in Spain," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    11. Sergey S. Neustroev & Anna A. Arinushkina, 2019. "Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving in Public Schools: Federal Policy and Regional Perspectives from Russia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 9(6), pages 535-541.
    12. Marko Å ostar & Ines Å koko, 2024. "Unpacking the Complexities of Energy Renovation Programs for Family Houses: Case Study of Croatia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(4), pages 12-25, July.
    13. Liu, Guo & Li, Xiaohu & Tan, Yongtao & Zhang, Guomin, 2020. "Building green retrofit in China: Policies, barriers and recommendations," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    14. Akhatova, A. & Derkenbaeva, E. & van Leeuwen, E. & Kranzl, L. & Halleck Vega, S. & Hofstede, G.J., 2024. "Who invests in energy retrofits? Mining Dutch homeowners’ data," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    15. Nava-Guerrero, Graciela-del-Carmen & Hansen, Helle Hvid & Korevaar, Gijsbert & Lukszo, Zofia, 2022. "An agent-based exploration of the effect of multi-criteria decisions on complex socio-technical heat transitions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PB).
    16. Decuypere, Robbe & Robaeyst, Ben & Hudders, Liselot & Baccarne, Bastiaan & Van de Sompel, Dieneke, 2022. "Transitioning to energy efficient housing: Drivers and barriers of intermediaries in heat pump technology," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    17. Halleck Vega, Solmaria & van Leeuwen, Eveline & van Twillert, Nienke, 2022. "Uptake of residential energy efficiency measures and renewable energy: Do spatial factors matter?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    18. Andra Blumberga & Gatis Bazbauers & Selina Vancane & Ivars Ijabs & Jurijs Nikisins & Dagnija Blumberga, 2021. "Unintended Effects of Energy Efficiency Policy: Lessons Learned in the Residential Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-31, November.
    19. Liu, Xuan & Yang, Dujuan & Arentze, Theo & Wielders, Tom, 2023. "The willingness of social housing tenants to participate in natural gas-free heating systems project: Insights from a stated choice experiment in the Netherlands," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    20. Miguel Macias Sequeira & João Pedro Gouveia, 2022. "A Sequential Multi-Staged Approach for Developing Digital One-Stop Shops to Support Energy Renovations of Residential Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-27, July.
    21. Benedikt Maciosek & Mehdi Farsi & Sylvain Weber & Martin Jakob, 2022. "Impact of complexity and experience on energy investment decisions for residential buildings," IRENE Working Papers 22-07, IRENE Institute of Economic Research.
    22. Robert Baumhof & Thomas Decker & Klaus Menrad, 2019. "A Comparative Analysis of House Owners in Need of Energy Efficiency Measures but with Different Intentions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-19, June.
    23. Minyoung Kwon & Erwin Mlecnik, 2021. "Modular Web Portal Approach for Stimulating Home Renovation: Lessons from Local Authority Developments," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-14, February.
    24. Rana, Anber & Sadiq, Rehan & Alam, M. Shahria & Karunathilake, Hirushie & Hewage, Kasun, 2021. "Evaluation of financial incentives for green buildings in Canadian landscape," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).

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