Monitoring the adoption of energy innovations: evaluating competing explanations for application in new office buildings

Walter J.V. Vermeulen and J. Hovens, Utrecht University
C. Egmond and H. Korbee, SenterNovem

Keywords

Diffusion, Sustainable building, Decision-making, Energy Performance Standards, Policy Evaluation

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the explaining factors of the diffusion of energy innovations. An integrative model to explain potential adopters' decisions to adopt energy innovations was adapted and applied in the field of new office building construction. We tested the relative effects of competing theoretical explanations (derived from economics, innovation science and policy science) on the decision to adopt. The research covered 35 projects representing 9% of the total volume of new office construction in the Netherlands between 2000 and mid 2002. Two levels of explanations for adopting innovations were derived: (1) the potential adopter's weighed assessments of the innovations and his or her nature of decision-making, and (2) explanation of those first-level variables. Using multiple regression techniques, we determined the relative influence on innovation-adoption of variables covering economy and technology, government intervention, company characteristics, and influences from market and society. The decision to adopt 'mature' innovations, in contrast to 'young' innovations, is based more on routine procedures than project-specific considerations. Policies need to take this difference into consideration. We also show evidence that the Dutch system of Energy Performance Standards and subsidies are effective in promoting adoption of E-innovations for new office buildings.