IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i3p1250-d1331674.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring the Generation Z Attitude towards Energy Efficiency Improvement and Decarbonization through Heat Pumps: An Empirical Study in Romania

Author

Listed:
  • Adrian Tantau

    (Faculty of Business Administration in Foreign Languages, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Calea Griviței 2-2A, 010731 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Simona Irina Goia (Agoston)

    (Faculty of Business Administration in Foreign Languages, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Calea Griviței 2-2A, 010731 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Violeta Mihaela Dincă

    (Faculty of Business Administration in Foreign Languages, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Calea Griviței 2-2A, 010731 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Carmen Păunescu

    (Faculty of Business Administration in Foreign Languages, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Calea Griviței 2-2A, 010731 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Stere Stamule

    (Faculty of Business Administration in Foreign Languages, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Calea Griviței 2-2A, 010731 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Tănase Stamule

    (Faculty of Business Administration in Foreign Languages, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Calea Griviței 2-2A, 010731 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Anca Bogdan

    (Faculty of Business Administration in Foreign Languages, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Calea Griviței 2-2A, 010731 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the attitude of Generation Z representatives from Romania regarding the improvement in energy efficiency and decarbonization through the utilization of modern integrated technologies such as heat pumps, thermal energy storage, and smart control systems. It uses primary data from a questionnaire-based survey conducted between March and June 2023, with 389 valid responses, for the following purposes: (1) to analyze the attitude of young respondents towards the utilization of sustainable modern integrated technologies, such as heat pumps, in order to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprints; (2) to identify the factors that may influence their attitude regarding these technologies; (3) to understand the influence that the resulting factors may exert on the attitude towards utilization of heat pumps, implicitly leading to energy efficiency improvement and decarbonization in Romania; and (4) to formulate policy recommendations for improving energy efficiency and stimulating decarbonization in Romania. This study employs various descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and multiple regression. The results show that there are six categories of factors influencing the attitude of Generation Z representatives, with “Drivers for improving energy efficiency” along with “Traditional measures for improving energy efficiency” having the largest influence on driving a positive attitude toward energy efficiency improvement and decarbonization. The main policy recommendation derived from this study refers to developing policies and strategies that incentivize citizens not only to have a positive attitude toward energy efficiency and decarbonization through the utilization of heat pumps but also trigger concrete action for installing heat pump technology. Another recommendation concerns the further development and expansion of national and local programs for insulating the external surface of buildings and the replacement of windows and exterior doors that do not have thermal insulation. The third major recommendation is related to awareness creation campaigns among the population about modern measures for improving energetic efficiency, such as heat pumps.

Suggested Citation

  • Adrian Tantau & Simona Irina Goia (Agoston) & Violeta Mihaela Dincă & Carmen Păunescu & Stere Stamule & Tănase Stamule & Anca Bogdan, 2024. "Exploring the Generation Z Attitude towards Energy Efficiency Improvement and Decarbonization through Heat Pumps: An Empirical Study in Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:3:p:1250-:d:1331674
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/3/1250/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/3/1250/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Killip, Gavin & Owen, Alice, 2020. "The construction industry as agents of energy demand configuration in the existing housing stock," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    2. Kern, Florian & Rogge, Karoline S. & Howlett, Michael, 2019. "Policy mixes for sustainability transitions: New approaches and insights through bridging innovation and policy studies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(10).
    3. Mohammad Fazle Rabbi & József Popp & Domicián Máté & Sándor Kovács, 2022. "Energy Security and Energy Transition to Achieve Carbon Neutrality," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-18, October.
    4. PELELLA, Francesco & ZSEMBINSZKI, Gabriel & VISCITO, Luca & William MAURO, Alfonso & CABEZA, Luisa F., 2023. "Thermo-economic optimization of a multi-source (air/sun/ground) residential heat pump with a water/PCM thermal storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    5. Lauren A. Fleishman & Wändi Bruine De Bruin & M. Granger Morgan, 2010. "Informed Public Preferences for Electricity Portfolios with CCS and Other Low‐Carbon Technologies," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(9), pages 1399-1410, September.
    6. Pietzcker, Robert C. & Osorio, Sebastian & Rodrigues, Renato, 2021. "Tightening EU ETS targets in line with the European Green Deal: Impacts on the decarbonization of the EU power sector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    7. Thomaßen, Georg & Kavvadias, Konstantinos & Jiménez Navarro, Juan Pablo, 2021. "The decarbonisation of the EU heating sector through electrification: A parametric analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PA).
    8. Violeta Mihaela Dincă & Mihail Busu & Zoltan Nagy-Bege, 2022. "Determinants with Impact on Romanian Consumers’ Energy-Saving Habits," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, June.
    9. Michael Siegrist & George Cvetkovich, 2000. "Perception of Hazards: The Role of Social Trust and Knowledge," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(5), pages 713-720, October.
    10. Pietzcker, Robert & Osorio, Sebastian & Rodrigues, Renato, 2021. "Tightening EU ETS targets in line with the European Green Deal: Impacts on the decarbonization of the EU power sector," EconStor Preprints 222579, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, revised 2021.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Adrian Tantau & Greta Marilena Puscasu & Silvia Elena Cristache & Cristina Alpopi & Laurentiu Fratila & Daniel Moise & Georgeta Narcisa Ciobotar, 2022. "A Deep Understanding of Romanian Attitude and Perception Regarding Nuclear Energy as Green Investment Promoted by the European Green Deal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Zhong, Meirui & Zhang, Rui & Ren, Xiaohang, 2023. "The time-varying effects of liquidity and market efficiency of the European Union carbon market: Evidence from the TVP-SVAR-SV approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    3. Tan, Xiujie & Sun, Qian & Wang, Meiji & Se Cheong, Tsun & Yan Shum, Wai & Huang, Jinpeng, 2022. "Assessing the effects of emissions trading systems on energy consumption and energy mix," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    4. Martina Ricci & Marcello Benvenuto & Stefano Gino Mosele & Roberto Pacciani & Michele Marconcini, 2022. "Predicting the Impact of Compressor Flexibility Improvements on Heavy-Duty Gas Turbines for Minimum and Base Load Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-14, October.
    5. Dong, Kangyin & Yang, Senmiao & Wang, Jianda & Nepal, Rabindra & Jamasb, Tooraj, 2024. "Does Geopolitical Risk Accelerate Climate Vulnerability? New Evidence from the European Green Deal," Working Papers 15-2024, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Economics.
    6. Qu, Chunzi & Bang, Rasmus Noss, 2024. "European Grid Development Modeling and Analysis: Established Frameworks, Research Trends, and Future Opportunities," Discussion Papers 2024/11, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.
    7. Hänsel, Martin C. & Franks, Max & Kalkuhl, Matthias & Edenhofer, Ottmar, 2022. "Optimal carbon taxation and horizontal equity: A welfare-theoretic approach with application to German household data," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    8. Pashchenko, Dmitry & Mustafin, Ravil & Karpilov, Igor, 2022. "Ammonia-fired chemically recuperated gas turbine: Thermodynamic analysis of cycle and recuperation system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    9. Jan-Philipp Sasse & Evelina Trutnevyte, 2023. "A low-carbon electricity sector in Europe risks sustaining regional inequalities in benefits and vulnerabilities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Sasse, Jan-Philipp & Trutnevyte, Evelina, 2023. "Cost-effective options and regional interdependencies of reaching a low-carbon European electricity system in 2035," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    11. Brown, T. & Reichenberg, L., 2021. "Decreasing market value of variable renewables can be avoided by policy action," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    12. Ning Ren & Xiufan Zhang & Decheng Fan, 2022. "Influencing Factors and Realization Path of Power Decarbonization—Based on Panel Data Analysis of 30 Provinces in China from 2011 to 2019," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-24, November.
    13. Mariusz Pyra, 2023. "Simulation of the Progress of the Decarbonization Process in Poland’s Road Transport Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-21, June.
    14. Luo, Shihua & Hu, Weihao & Liu, Wen & Zhang, Zhenyuan & Bai, Chunguang & Huang, Qi & Chen, Zhe, 2022. "Study on the decarbonization in China's power sector under the background of carbon neutrality by 2060," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    15. Finke, Jonas & Bertsch, Valentin, 2022. "Implementing a highly adaptable method for the multi-objective optimisation of energy systems," MPRA Paper 115504, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Che, Shuai & Wang, Jun & Chen, Honghang, 2023. "Can China's decentralized energy governance reduce carbon emissions? Evidence from new energy demonstration cities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    17. Buberger, Johannes & Kersten, Anton & Kuder, Manuel & Eckerle, Richard & Weyh, Thomas & Thiringer, Torbjörn, 2022. "Total CO2-equivalent life-cycle emissions from commercially available passenger cars," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    18. Shirley Thompson, 2023. "Strategic Analysis of the Renewable Electricity Transition: Power to the World without Carbon Emissions?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-34, August.
    19. Kamila Pronińska & Krzysztof Księżopolski, 2021. "Baltic Offshore Wind Energy Development—Poland’s Public Policy Tools Analysis and the Geostrategic Implications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-17, August.
    20. Andrew Chapman & Hidemichi Fujii, 2022. "The Potential Role of Flying Vehicles in Progressing the Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-11, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:3:p:1250-:d:1331674. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.