Output details

Adoption and use of household microgeneration heat technologies

The 2007-8 ‘Household adoption and use of micro-generation heat’ project led by Sally Caird and Robin Roy in collaboration with Energy Saving Trust investigated reasons for adoption and non-adoption of low carbon heating technologies by UK consumers, and their experiences of installing and using solar thermal, heat pump and biomass heating systems. Funded under the HE Innovation Fund/Carbon Connections programme, this investigated the role of design in developing desirable technologies that reduce household carbon emissions, and policies to promote adoption. Online surveys investigated over 900 UK householders’ experiences of micro-generation heating technologies, with statistical analysis to identify design improvements (e.g. improved system compatibility with properties and existing heating systems; user-centred and informative controls); and policies to facilitate take-up (e.g. independent information on the suitability, performance, payback and effective use of equipment; ‘one-stop’ support from consideration to operation). Widely publicised by the Energy Savings Trust (EST), the findings were launched at the 2008 Micro-generation Council conference and published as an EST report YIMBY Generation. Yes in my back yard!, aimed at the public, equipment installers and manufacturers Also publicised by the BBC, The Independent and as a feature article in Green Building (2008), the findings provided evidence for the government’s Micro-generation Strategy Progress Report (2008), and were incorporated into The Growth Potential for Micro-generation (2008) major study. The findings identified heat pumps as a key technology for decarbonising domestic heat, contributing to EST’s decision to conduct the first large-scale national heat pump field trial 2008-10. Following an invited presentation to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the findings were submitted as part of the government Heat Strategy consultation 2012 on policies for low carbon heating.