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Who adopts and deploys advanced home energy technologies?

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  • Jacobsen, Grant D.

Abstract

Technological innovation, including advances related to clean energy and artificial intelligence, have increased the potential role for the use of smart devices in residences, such as smart thermostats or smart speakers used to control connected equipment. While these devices hold promise for aiding a transition to a lower-carbon energy system – in part by enabling more advanced demand-side management energy programs such as “virtual power plants” – the extent to which they will do so depends on their rates of adoption and deployment by households. Using newly available data, this paper investigates the factors associated with the rates of adoption and deployment of smart devices. Key factors positively associated with adoption and deployment include graduating from college, income, broadband internet, and home square footage. Key factors negatively associated with adoption and deployment include female gender, renting, senior age and middle age (relative to young adult). These results may be helpful to utility managers or policymakers seeking to increase the diffusion of the next wave of residential energy technologies through marketing and outreach campaigns or other measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacobsen, Grant D., 2025. "Who adopts and deploys advanced home energy technologies?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:145:y:2025:i:c:s0140988325001574
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108333
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    JEL classification:

    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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