Modelling energy-efficient renovation adoption and diffusion process for households: A review and a way forward

Hua Du,Qi Han,Bauke De Vries

doi:10.1016/j.scs.2021.103560

Hua Du, Qi Han + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.103560

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Abstract

The residential sector is one of the major sources of energy consumption, with a high energy conservation potential. Energy consumption reduction could be achieved through Energy-Efficient Renovation (EER). This paper presents a systematic review of EER adoption influences and EER diffusion modelling. The review starts with an overview of EER adoption drivers, barriers, and policies, then introduces the adoption influences, including socio-demographics, housing factors, social influences, and environmental attitudes. The significances of these influences vary across different studies, and studies focussing on influences cannot provide insights on the number of resources and efforts needed to overcome the barriers. EER modelling of adoption decision-making and energy efficiency diffusion was introduced, focusing on Agent-Based Modelling (ABM). The most investigated technology diffusion is Photo-Voltaic (PV) panels. Most ABM models were developed based on behaviour theories. These models are used for evaluating policy effectiveness. Most policies analyses amongst the reviewed papers are limited, neglecting the influences of housing situations and building codes and standards. Besides, few models are developed based on real-world data. It is concluded that agent-based models in EER are needed to include a broad range of technologies or incorporate existing empirical EER studies or empirical adoption data for reliable simulation results.

Highlights

Building-related carbon emissions have increased significantly since 2010
Energy consumption reduction could be achieved through Energy-Efficient Renovation (EER)
This paper presents a systematic review of EER adoption influences and EER diffusion modelling

Summary

Introduction

Building-related carbon emissions have increased significantly since 2010. It is predicted that global energy demand for buildings could increase up to threefold from 2010 to 2100 (Levesque et al, 2018). There is significant potential in the building sector for energy consumption and carbon emission reduction. It is suggested that housing technical properties, such as the type of heating technology, are the main determinant of energy use intensity (Risch & Salmon, 2017). Another study describes that retrofits and technical improvement could explain about 50% of the heating energy consumption reduction (Galvin & Sunikka-Blank, 2014). Energy-efficient technologies contribute to the sus tainable development of society (IEA, 2019a), improving living comfort (IEA, 2019b), and bringing health benefits (Long, Young, Webber, Gouldson & Harwatt, 2015)

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