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The importance of instrumental, symbolic, and environmental attributes for the adoption of smart energy systems

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  • Noppers, Ernst H.
  • Keizer, Kees
  • Milovanovic, Marko
  • Steg, Linda

Abstract

The conceptual model on motivations to adopt sustainable innovations (Noppers et al., 2014) proved to be successful in explaining proxies of the adoption of sustainable innovations: positive evaluations of the utility (instrumental attributes), environmental impact (environmental attributes), and specifically the extent to which the innovation says something about a person (symbolic attributes) increased interest in and intention to adopt sustainable innovations. In this paper, we examined to what extent the evaluations of these three attributes can also explain the actual adoption of smart energy systems that facilitate sustainable energy use. Results showed that adopters of smart energy systems (who agreed to participate in a project in which these systems were tested) evaluated the symbolic attributes of these systems more positively than non-adopters (who did not participate in this project), while both groups did not differ in their evaluation of the instrumental and environmental attributes of smart energy systems. A logistic regression analysis indicated that only evaluations of the symbolic attributes explained actual adoption of smart energy systems. Policy could stress and enhance the symbolic attributes of sustainable innovations to encourage adoption.

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  • Noppers, Ernst H. & Keizer, Kees & Milovanovic, Marko & Steg, Linda, 2016. "The importance of instrumental, symbolic, and environmental attributes for the adoption of smart energy systems," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 12-18.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:98:y:2016:i:c:p:12-18
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.08.007
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    3. Carla Mingolla & Liselot Hudders & Veroline Cauberghe, 2020. "Framing Descriptive Norms as Self-Benefit Versus Environmental Benefit: Self-Construal’s Moderating Impact in Promoting Smart Energy Devices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-23, January.
    4. Jizi Li & Yuping Zhou & Dengke Yu & Chunling Liu, 2020. "Consumers’ Purchase Intention of New Energy Vehicles: Do Product-Life-Cycle Policy Portfolios Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-23, February.
    5. Shiwen Zhao & Liwen Chen, 2021. "Exploring Residents’ Purchase Intention of Green Housings in China: An Extended Perspective of Perceived Value," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-19, April.
    6. Y. Li & C.J.M. Kool & P.J. Engelen, 2016. "Hydrogen-Fuel Infrastructure Investment with Endogenous Demand: A Real Options Approach," Working Papers 16-12, Utrecht School of Economics.
    7. Lund, Henrik & Østergaard, Poul Alberg & Connolly, David & Mathiesen, Brian Vad, 2017. "Smart energy and smart energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 556-565.
    8. Meysam Karami Rad & Mahmoud Omid & Ali Rajabipour & Fariba Tajabadi & Lasse Aistrup Rosendahl & Alireza Rezaniakolaei, 2018. "Optimum Thermal Concentration of Solar Thermoelectric Generators (STEG) in Realistic Meteorological Condition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-16, September.

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