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Knowledge, energy sustainability, and vulnerability in the demographics of smart home technology diffusion
Version 2 2023-06-12, 09:44
Version 1 2023-06-09, 23:06
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 09:44 authored by Benjamin SovacoolBenjamin Sovacool, Mari MartiskainenMari Martiskainen, Dylan Furszyfer Del RioDylan Furszyfer Del RioIn 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 PolicyISSN
0301-4215Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Volume
153Page range
1-17Article number
a112196Department affiliated with
- SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2021-02-18First Open Access (FOA) Date
2021-04-12First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2021-02-18Usage metrics
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