Investment inefficiency and the adoption of eco-innovations: The case of household energy efficiency technologies

Ivan Diaz-Rainey*, John K. Ashton

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This paper examines the factors determining household adoption of energy efficiency eco-innovations. We do so by testing hypotheses grounded in diffusion and finance theory and the literature on the barriers to energy efficiency. Using two large surveys of UK households, we explore the adoption of nine technologies. Our results indicate 'investment inefficiency' amongst household adopters occurs for two reasons. First, contrary to notions of rational choice, we find a negative relationship between the investment return of technologies and their level of diffusion. Second, we show adopters of these technologies display characteristics broadly consistent with diffusion theory, contradicting the prediction of finance theory that investment return, not individual characteristics, should drive adoption. We also find that policy has played a role in inducing the diffusion of these technologies and that tenure and spill-over effects are important in adoption. Finally, adoption is motivated more by a desire to save money than by environmental concern. We conclude by giving examples of how our research can lead to better policy timing and targeting.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)105-117
Number of pages13
JournalEnergy policy
Volume82
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

Keywords

  • Eco-innovation
  • Efficiency gap
  • Energy efficiency
  • Innovation adoption
  • Innovation diffusion
  • Investment inefficiency

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