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Knowledge, energy sustainability, and vulnerability in the demographics of smart home technology diffusion

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 09:44 authored by Benjamin SovacoolBenjamin Sovacool, Mari MartiskainenMari Martiskainen, Dylan Furszyfer Del RioDylan Furszyfer Del Rio
In this empirical study, we explore the user acceptance of smart home technologies by asking: How do people perceive their opportunities and drawbacks? What factors shape their perceptions? What implications does this have for future energy savings, sustainability, and policy? Based on a mixed methods approach involving three focus groups (N = 18) and a nationally representative survey of adults (N = 1032) in the United Kingdom, we explore the demographics, preferences, and risks of smart home technology. We do this via the lenses of knowledge and adoption; energy and climate sustainability; and vulnerability and exclusion. We explore how different classes of people—adopters versus non-adopters, high-income versus low-income, women and men, old versus young—support or oppose smart home technologies, have different degrees of knowledge and misperceptions, and reveal very different perceptions about the practices enabled by smart homes. In doing so, we show at times compelling links between smart homes and energy consumption, and possible negative impacts to poverty, inclusion, and empowerment.

Funding

UK Centre for Research on Energy Demand; G2424; EPSRC-ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL; EP/R035288/1

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Energy Policy

ISSN

0301-4215

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

153

Page range

1-17

Article number

a112196

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2021-02-18

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2021-04-12

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2021-02-18

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