IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v63y2013icp833-844.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Harnessing social networks for promoting adoption of energy technologies in the domestic sector

Author

Listed:
  • Bale, Catherine S.E.
  • McCullen, Nicholas J.
  • Foxon, Timothy J.
  • Rucklidge, Alastair M.
  • Gale, William F.

Abstract

This paper presents results from modelling work investigating the effects of social networks on the adoption of energy technologies in the domestic sector. This work concerns ideas on social network interventions which have been successfully applied in other domains but which have seldom been applied to energy policy questions. We employ a dynamical multi-parameter network model where households are represented as nodes on a network for which the uptake of technologies is influenced by both personal benefit and social influences. This is applied to demonstrate the usefulness of this type of model in assessing the likely success of different roll-out strategies that a local authority could pursue in promoting the uptake of domestic energy technologies. Local authorities can play a key role in the retrofit of energy-efficiency and low-carbon energy-generation technologies in order to realise carbon reductions and alleviate fuel poverty. Scenarios are modelled for different local authority interventions that target network interactions and uptake threshold effects, and the results provide insights for policy. The potential for the use of this type of modelling in understanding the adoption of energy innovations in the domestic sector and designing local-level interventions is demonstrated.

Suggested Citation

  • Bale, Catherine S.E. & McCullen, Nicholas J. & Foxon, Timothy J. & Rucklidge, Alastair M. & Gale, William F., 2013. "Harnessing social networks for promoting adoption of energy technologies in the domestic sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 833-844.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:63:y:2013:i:c:p:833-844
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.09.033
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421513009579
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.09.033?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. McMichael, Megan & Shipworth, David, 2013. "The value of social networks in the diffusion of energy-efficiency innovations in UK households," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 159-168.
    2. Bale, Catherine S.E. & Foxon, Timothy J. & Hannon, Matthew J. & Gale, William F., 2012. "Strategic energy planning within local authorities in the UK: A study of the city of Leeds," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 242-251.
    3. Sheldrick, Bill, 1985. "Local authority involvement with energy conservation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 129-158.
    4. Clinch, J. Peter & Healy, John D., 2001. "Cost-benefit analysis of domestic energy efficiency," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 113-124, January.
    5. Michelsen, Carl Christian & Madlener, Reinhard, 2013. "Motivational factors influencing the homeowners’ decisions between residential heating systems: An empirical analysis for Germany," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 221-233.
    6. Michael Nye & Lorraine Whitmarsh & Timothy Foxon, 2010. "Sociopsychological Perspectives on the Active Roles of Domestic Actors in Transition to a Lower Carbon Electricity Economy," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 42(3), pages 697-714, March.
    7. Coltrane, Scott & Archer, Dane & Aronson, Elliot, 1986. "The social-psychological foundations of successful energy conservation programmes," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 133-148, April.
    8. Graham Room, 2011. "Complexity, Institutions and Public Policy," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 14394.
    9. Andreas Grönlund & Petter Holme, 2005. "A Network-Based Threshold Model For The Spreading Of Fads In Society And Markets," Advances in Complex Systems (ACS), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 8(02n03), pages 261-273.
    10. Lynne Hamill & Nigel Gilbert, 2009. "Social Circles: A Simple Structure for Agent-Based Social Network Models," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 12(2), pages 1-3.
    11. Hoppe, T. & Bressers, J.Th.A. & Lulofs, K.R.D., 2011. "Local government influence on energy conservation ambitions in existing housing sites--Plucking the low-hanging fruit?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 916-925, February.
    12. Bryan Bollinger & Kenneth Gillingham, 2012. "Peer Effects in the Diffusion of Solar Photovoltaic Panels," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 31(6), pages 900-912, November.
    13. Shove, Elizabeth, 1998. "Gaps, barriers and conceptual chasms: theories of technology transfer and energy in buildings," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(15), pages 1105-1112, December.
    14. Comodi, Gabriele & Cioccolanti, Luca & Polonara, Fabio & Brandoni, Caterina, 2012. "Local authorities in the context of energy and climate policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 737-748.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Byrka, Katarzyna & Jȩdrzejewski, Arkadiusz & Sznajd-Weron, Katarzyna & Weron, Rafał, 2016. "Difficulty is critical: The importance of social factors in modeling diffusion of green products and practices," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 723-735.
    2. Vrain, E. & Wilson, C. & Kerr, L. & Wilson, M., 2022. "Social influence in the adoption of digital consumer innovations for climate change," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    3. Alderete Peralta, Ali & Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye & Longhurst, Philip, 2022. "Spatio-temporal modelling of solar photovoltaic adoption: An integrated neural networks and agent-based modelling approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    4. Fabian Scheller & Isabel Doser & Emily Schulte & Simon Johanning & Russell McKenna & Thomas Bruckner, 2021. "Stakeholder dynamics in residential solar energy adoption: findings from focus group discussions in Germany," Papers 2104.14240, arXiv.org.
    5. Katarzyna Byrka & Arkadiusz Jedrzejewski & Katarzyna Sznajd-Weron & Rafal Weron, 2015. "Difficulty is critical: Psychological factors in modeling diffusion of green products and practices," HSC Research Reports HSC/15/10, Hugo Steinhaus Center, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology.
    6. Diaz-Rainey, Ivan & Ashton, John K., 2015. "Investment inefficiency and the adoption of eco-innovations: The case of household energy efficiency technologies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 105-117.
    7. Fabian Scheller & Isabel Doser & Daniel Sloot & Russell McKenna & Thomas Bruckner, 2020. "Exploring the Role of Stakeholder Dynamics in Residential Photovoltaic Adoption Decisions: A Synthesis of the Literature," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-31, November.
    8. Goedkoop, F. & Dijkstra, J. & Flache, A., 2022. "A social network perspective on involvement in community energy initiatives: The role of direct and extended social ties to initiators," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    9. Bale, Catherine S.E. & Varga, Liz & Foxon, Timothy J., 2015. "Energy and complexity: New ways forward," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 150-159.
    10. Azadeh Ahkamiraad & Yong Wang, 2018. "An Agent-Based Model for Zip-Code Level Diffusion of Electric Vehicles and Electricity Consumption in New York City," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-17, March.
    11. Du, Feng & Zhang, Jiangfeng & Li, Hailong & Yan, Jinyue & Galloway, Stuart & Lo, Kwok L., 2016. "Modelling the impact of social network on energy savings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 56-65.
    12. Hall, Lisa M.H. & Buckley, Alastair R., 2016. "A review of energy systems models in the UK: Prevalent usage and categorisation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 607-628.
    13. Zhang, Qi & Liu, Jiangfeng & Yang, Kexin & Liu, Boyu & Wang, Ge, 2022. "Market adoption simulation of electric vehicle based on social network model considering nudge policies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    14. Candas, Soner & Siala, Kais & Hamacher, Thomas, 2019. "Sociodynamic modeling of small-scale PV adoption and insights on future expansion without feed-in tariffs," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 521-536.
    15. Niken Prilandita & Benjamin McLellan & Tetsuo Tezuka, 2016. "Modeling Autonomous Decision-Making on Energy and Environmental Management Using Petri-Net: The Case Study of a Community in Bandung, Indonesia," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-26, April.
    16. Wang, Ge & Zhang, Qi & Li, Yan & Li, Hailong, 2018. "Policy simulation for promoting residential PV considering anecdotal information exchanges based on social network modelling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C), pages 1-10.
    17. Benjamin Batinge & Josephine Kaviti Musango & Fabrizio Ceschin & Amollo Ambole & Suzanne Smit & Aine Petrulaityte, 2022. "Modelling gendered innovation for the security of energy services in poor urban environments," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(2), pages 287-304, March.
    18. Wichsinee Wibulpolprasert & Umnouy Ponsukcharoen & Siripha Junlakarn & Sopitsuda Tongsopit, 2021. "Preliminarily Screening Geographical Hotspots for New Rooftop PV Installation: A Case Study in Thailand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-30, June.
    19. Pettifor, H. & Wilson, C. & Chryssochoidis, G., 2015. "The appeal of the green deal: Empirical evidence for the influence of energy efficiency policy on renovating homeowners," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 161-176.
    20. Penny Mealy & Pete Barbrook-Johnson & Matthew C Ives & Sugandha Srivastav & Cameron Hepburn, 2023. "Sensitive intervention points: a strategic approach to climate action," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 39(4), pages 694-710.
    21. Kang, Moon Jung & Hwang, Jongwoon, 2016. "Structural dynamics of innovation networks funded by the European Union in the context of systemic innovation of the renewable energy sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 471-490.
    22. Heiskanen, Eva & Matschoss, Kaisa, 2017. "Understanding the uneven diffusion of building-scale renewable energy systems: A review of household, local and country level factors in diverse European countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 580-591.

    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. Pettifor, H. & Wilson, C. & Chryssochoidis, G., 2015. "The appeal of the green deal: Empirical evidence for the influence of energy efficiency policy on renovating homeowners," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 161-176.
    2. Soyoung Yoo & Jiyong Eom & Ingoo Han, 2020. "Factors Driving Consumer Involvement in Energy Consumption and Energy-Efficient Purchasing Behavior: Evidence from Korean Residential Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-23, July.
    3. Anna Kowalska-Pyzalska, 2015. "Social acceptance of green energy and dynamic electricity tariffs - a short review," HSC Research Reports HSC/15/07, Hugo Steinhaus Center, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology.
    4. 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.
    5. Kowalska-Pyzalska, Anna & Maciejowska, Katarzyna & Suszczyński, Karol & Sznajd-Weron, Katarzyna & Weron, Rafał, 2014. "Turning green: Agent-based modeling of the adoption of dynamic electricity tariffs," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 164-174.
    6. Häckel, Björn & Pfosser, Stefan & Tränkler, Timm, 2017. "Explaining the energy efficiency gap - Expected Utility Theory versus Cumulative Prospect Theory," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 414-426.
    7. Salla Annala & Satu Viljainen & Merja Pakkanen & Kristiina Hukki, 2016. "Consumer preferences in engaging in a sustainable lifestyle," International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18.
    8. Benjamin Batinge & Josephine Kaviti Musango & Fabrizio Ceschin & Amollo Ambole & Suzanne Smit & Aine Petrulaityte, 2022. "Modelling gendered innovation for the security of energy services in poor urban environments," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(2), pages 287-304, March.
    9. Brown, Marilyn A. & Kale, Snehal & Cha, Min-Kyeong & Chapman, Oliver, 2023. "Exploring the willingness of consumers to electrify their homes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    10. Kowalska-Pyzalska, Anna, 2018. "What makes consumers adopt to innovative energy services in the energy market? A review of incentives and barriers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3570-3581.
    11. Noemi Munkacsi & Krushna Mahapatra, 2019. "Communication and Household Adoption of Heating Products in Hungary," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-22, January.
    12. Anna Kowalska-Pyzalska, 2016. "What makes consumers adopt to innovative energy services in the energy market?," HSC Research Reports HSC/16/09, Hugo Steinhaus Center, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology.
    13. Hargreaves, Tom & Nye, Michael & Burgess, Jacquelin, 2013. "Keeping energy visible? Exploring how householders interact with feedback from smart energy monitors in the longer term," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 126-134.
    14. Francesco Pasimeni & Tommaso Ciarli, 2018. "Diffusion of Shared Goods in Consumer Coalitions. An Agent-Based Model," SPRU Working Paper Series 2018-24, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    15. Azevedo, I. & Leal, V., 2021. "A new model for ex-post quantification of the effects of local actions for climate change mitigation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    16. Bardsley, Nicholas & Büchs, Milena & James, Patrick & Papafragkou, Anastasios & Rushby, Thomas & Saunders, Clare & Smith, Graham & Wallbridge, Rebecca & Woodman, Nicholas, 2019. "Domestic thermal upgrades, community action and energy saving: A three-year experimental study of prosperous households," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 475-485.
    17. Carattini, Stefano & Gillingham, Kenneth & Meng, Xiangyu & Yoeli, Erez, 2024. "Peer-to-peer solar and social rewards: Evidence from a field experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 340-370.
    18. Shijie Lu & Xin (Shane) Wang & Neil Bendle, 2020. "Does Piracy Create Online Word of Mouth? An Empirical Analysis in the Movie Industry," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(5), pages 2140-2162, May.
    19. Michelsen, Carl Christian & Madlener, Reinhard, 2016. "Switching from fossil fuel to renewables in residential heating systems: An empirical study of homeowners' decisions in Germany," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 95-105.
    20. Dalia Streimikiene & Tomas Balezentis, 2020. "Willingness to Pay for Renovation of Multi-Flat Buildings and to Share the Costs of Renovation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, May.

    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:eee:enepol:v:63:y:2013:i:c:p:833-844. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    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.