Exploring the role of positive direct experience in the adoption of energy efficient technologies : evidence from a Swiss field study on the promotion of low-flow showerheads

Tomic, Uros; Moser, Corinne; Blumer, Yann; Stauffacher, Michael; Seidl, Roman

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0230255

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-19827

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Exploring the role of positive direct experience in the adoption of energy efficient technologies : evidence from a Swiss field study on the promotion of low-flow showerheads
Authors:	Tomic, Uros Moser, Corinne Blumer, Yann Stauffacher, Michael Seidl, Roman
et. al:	Yes
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0230255 10.21256/zhaw-19827
Published in:	PLOS ONE
Volume(Issue):	15
Issue:	3
Page(s):	e0230255
Issue Date:	16-Mar-2020
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Public Library of Science
ISSN:	1932-6203
Language:	English
Subject (DDC):	333.79: Energy
Abstract:	Despite the considerable potential of low-flow showerheads to reduce household energy demand, their widespread implementation is still far from being realised. In this study, we compare the joint effect of a contextually embedded intervention in a public swimming pool to promote low-flow showerheads coupled with a mass campaign by a Swiss city’s utility to the stand-alone effect of the mass campaign. We also explore the factors that influence the outcome of the contextually embedded intervention. The quasi-experimental design of the study was possible due to the co-occurring installation of low-flow showerheads in a local public swimming pool and a campaign of a local utility, which offered low-flow showerheads for domestic use at a substantially reduced price. Our findings showed that the combined intervention was substantially more effective than the mass campaign alone. However, this result has to be interpreted with caution owing to the imperfect comparability of the two campaigns. Based on a survey of 402 swimming pool visitors, the study findings demonstrate the crucial role of a positive direct experience in the promotion of low-flow showerheads. This had a significant positive impact on attitudes towards low-flow showerheads, which in turn was found to be the most important determinant of purchase intention. The results suggest that more active communication of energy efficiency measures in public facilities might contribute to reductions in household energy use. Such campaigns can be used to share experiences of energy efficiency technologies and, therefore, promote the use of similar systems at home.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/19827
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement:	School of Engineering School of Management and Law
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Sustainable Development (INE) Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen School of Engineering

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Tomic, U., Moser, C., Blumer, Y., Stauffacher, M., & Seidl, R. (2020). Exploring the role of positive direct experience in the adoption of energy efficient technologies : evidence from a Swiss field study on the promotion of low-flow showerheads. Plos One, 15(3), e0230255. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230255

Tomic, U. et al. (2020) ‘Exploring the role of positive direct experience in the adoption of energy efficient technologies : evidence from a Swiss field study on the promotion of low-flow showerheads’, PLOS ONE, 15(3), p. e0230255. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230255.

U. Tomic, C. Moser, Y. Blumer, M. Stauffacher, and R. Seidl, “Exploring the role of positive direct experience in the adoption of energy efficient technologies : evidence from a Swiss field study on the promotion of low-flow showerheads,” PLOS ONE, vol. 15, no. 3, p. e0230255, Mar. 2020, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230255.

TOMIC, Uros, Corinne MOSER, Yann BLUMER, Michael STAUFFACHER und Roman SEIDL, 2020. Exploring the role of positive direct experience in the adoption of energy efficient technologies : evidence from a Swiss field study on the promotion of low-flow showerheads. PLOS ONE. 16 März 2020. Bd. 15, Nr. 3, S. e0230255. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0230255

Tomic, Uros, Corinne Moser, Yann Blumer, Michael Stauffacher, and Roman Seidl. 2020. “Exploring the Role of Positive Direct Experience in the Adoption of Energy Efficient Technologies : Evidence from a Swiss Field Study on the Promotion of Low-Flow Showerheads.” Plos One 15 (3): e0230255. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230255.

Tomic, Uros, et al. “Exploring the Role of Positive Direct Experience in the Adoption of Energy Efficient Technologies : Evidence from a Swiss Field Study on the Promotion of Low-Flow Showerheads.” Plos One, vol. 15, no. 3, Mar. 2020, p. e0230255, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230255.