When well begun is half done: How the adoption of sustainable energy technologies can lead to sustainable use of the technologies and other pro-environmental behaviours

Abstract

The adoption of sustainable energy technologies (such as solar photovoltaics or electric vehicles) is on the rise. To realise a sustainable energy transition people do not only need to adopt these technologies, but also use them in a sustainable way by shifting their energy use in time to match the available supply of sustainable energy, and to engage in sustainable behaviour more generally. This dissertation studied whether and how the adoption of sustainable energy technologies is related to sustainable use of the technologies and the engagement in other pro-environmental behaviours, and how the engagement in these behaviours can be promoted. The results show people are more likely to use a sustainable energy technology (in this case: an electric vehicle) in a sustainable way and to engage in other pro-environmental behaviours when they adopted the technology for environmental (rather than financial) reasons, as doing so makes them more likely to realise they are a pro-environmental person (i.e., strengthen their environmental self-identity). These findings suggest that sustainable use of a sustainable energy technology could be promoted by strengthening the environmental (rather than for example financial) motivation to adopt sustainable energy technology. Yet, this may be easier said than done, as emphasizing the environmental benefits did not promote sustainable use of the technologies nor the engagement in other sustainable behaviours. We further found that people tend to use a sustainable energy technology (in this case: solar photovoltaics) in a less sustainable way than they anticipated. These results indicate it is important to support people to act in line with their plans to promote sustainable use of the technology.