Assessing the adoption of sustainable heating technologies in the United Kingdom – A case study of socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods of Nottingham city

Abstract

The transition to sustainable heating technologies is crucial to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate the impacts of climate change and enable a sustainable and low-carbon society. However, a successful transition will require transformative, and large-scale household behavioural changes, and their acceptance and adoption of new technologies. Through mixed data collected at household level (n = 70) in three of the 10 poorest areas of the UK city of Nottingham (Aspley, Clifton, and St Ann's) we deepen the understanding of people's engagement with their current heating systems, their heating preferences, and views on adopting sustainable heating systems in the future. We find that despite the price increase in fossil fuel-based heating and people's reduction in heating use to reduce costs, getting them to move away from their current systems is very challenging, as most people are unwilling (41.13%) or sceptical (23.01%) about it as these systems are familiar, and generally perceived as more affordable, cost effective and efficient. Moreover, most people (71.43%) are unaware of the government's heating transition plans, but they believe that the adoption of sustainable heating systems should be optional to allow them to evaluate the pros and cons of the systems, and to choose the one that is better for them, that they can afford. Prompting a shift will need more than the common type of financial incentive. There must be first the provision of non-financial incentives to reduce some of the sociotechnical and perceptual barriers to adoption and motivate people to accept and engage in heat decarbonisation as part of a moral responsibility to the environment, and towards current and future generations.