Diffusion of innovative small-scale pellet heating systems in the residential sector in the context of oil and electricity-based systems

• A questionnaire survey of 1500 detached house owners was carried out in the autumn of 2004 to find out the factors influencing the adoption and diffusion of pellet heating systems in the Swedish residential sector. Results revealed that most of the respondents are satisfied with their existing heating systems and have not planned to install new heating systems. Economic aspects and functional reliability are important factors in the respondents� choice of heating system while environmental factors are of less importance. Therefore, internalizing external costs, such as environmental costs, might be effective in influencing house owners to adopt environmentally benign heating systems. Installers are the most important source of information on heating systems. Hence, they should be trained to inform the consumer comprehensively about different heating systems. Respondents perceive the relative advantage of pellet boilers over oil or electricity-based heating systems, but bedrock heat pumps are considered better than pellet boilers and therefore diffuse faster.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik -- Annan naturresursteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering -- Other Environmental Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Pellets

heat sector

economic aspects

Environmental engineering

Miljöteknik

Byggteknik

Civil engineering

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)