Does information encourage or discourage tenants to accept energy retrofitting of homes?

Abstract

We study whether providing information about the consequences of residential energy retrofitting encourages public housing tenants to agree with retrofitting, and how this differs by type of information offered. We run a choice experiment in which tenants select between retrofitting packages that differ on the renewable technology used, the energy bill savings, the corresponding rent increase and the CO2 reduction. Two subsamples of participants get additional information on the financial respectively comfort-related consequences of retrofitting. We find that an average tenant is willing to agree with retrofitting when energy bill savings are 30% higher than the rent increase. Information on comfort-related consequences of renovations makes people more likely to choose for retrofitting. On the contrary, information on financial consequences reduces the support for retrofitting.