Sociodemographic and individual predictors of residential solar water heater adoption behaviour

Over the past decade, solar system analyses have expanded globally as many communities have adopted solar water heater (SWH) due to environmental concerns and decreasing technology development costs. The deployment of SWHs in the residential sector is significantly influenced by households' bounded rational choices, which rely on a wide range of heterogeneous behavioural predictors. This study aims to enhance the current comprehension of decision-making process regarding the residential SWHs adoption by identifying predictors with significant impacts on the diffusion of these systems. A systematic review of relevant academic databases was conducted, and variables from the 101 selected articles were classified into two categories: sociodemographic and individual factors. The characteristics and prevalence of identified predictors were examined within a coherent framework to provide a comprehensive visualisation of the findings from previous studies. The relationships between predictors and adoption decisions were then explored by analysing 82 of the 101 initially selected articles. The review outcome revealed 121 predictors (58 sociodemographic and 63 individual) grouped into 10 categories. The demographic and environmental values emerged as the most influential predictors in residential decision-making. An examination of the associations between predictors and adoption decisions revealed that income along with education had a significant positive influence on domestic SWH acceptance. Moreover, individual predictors such as environmental concerns and emission reduction played a crucial role in system adoption. Identifying key factors and their intertwined relationships can inform policymakers and industry stakeholders in designing more targeted and effective incentive policies to promote solar systems and renewable energy technologies.

Automated summary

In the past decade, solar system analyses have expanded globally as communities adopt solar water heaters (SWH) due to environmental concerns and decreasing technology costs. The adoption of SWHs in residential areas is greatly influenced by households' bounded rational choices and various behavioral predictors. This study reviewed relevant academic articles and identified 121 predictors, including sociodemographic and individual factors, which can impact the diffusion of residential SWHs. The findings revealed that demographic and environmental values were the most influential predictors in decision-making, and factors such as income, education, environmental concerns, and emission reduction played crucial roles in system adoption.