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Adoption of Energy Efficiency Measures in Renovation of Single-Family Houses: A Comparative Approach

Author

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  • Shoaib Azizi

    (Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden)

  • Gireesh Nair

    (Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden)

  • Thomas Olofsson

    (Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden)

Abstract

Inclusion of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) in the renovation of the single-family housing stock can unlock the potential for much-needed energy efficiency to tackle climate change. Energy renovation (ER) in single-family houses is often promoted as an aggregate process, and EEMs are treated homogenously without sufficient attention to their differences. This study applies a comparative analysis on common EEMs using chi-square test to investigate the influence of factors already found affecting the implementation of ER. This paper addresses the “personal” and “house-related” factors influencing the adoption of EEMs regardless of motives or barriers leading the adopters’ decisions. This strategy is useful to highlight the contexts leading to an increase in the adoption rate of different EEMs. The analysis is based on a questionnaire survey mailed in spring 2017 to 1550 single-family homeowners in the northern region of Sweden. Approximately 60% of respondents showed interest in adopting at least one EEM if they implement a major renovation. About 46% of respondents stated to have at least one indoor environmental problem (IEP) in their houses, and IEPs are found to have significant relations with homeowners’ interest to adopt several different EEMs. The policy implications related to different EEMs are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Shoaib Azizi & Gireesh Nair & Thomas Olofsson, 2020. "Adoption of Energy Efficiency Measures in Renovation of Single-Family Houses: A Comparative Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:22:p:6042-:d:447460
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Bernard Zawada & Joanna Rucińska, 2021. "Optimization of Modernization of a Single-Family Building in Poland Including Thermal Comfort," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-21, May.
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    4. Liu, Bokai & Penaka, Santhan Reddy & Lu, Weizhuo & Feng, Kailun & Rebbling, Anders & Olofsson, Thomas, 2023. "Data-driven quantitative analysis of an integrated open digital ecosystems platform for user-centric energy retrofits: A case study in northern Sweden," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

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