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Adoption of Passive Solar Homes in Franklin County, Ohio: A Study from both Supply- and Demand-Sides

Garrett, Vicki L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391592437

Abstract Details

2007, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Natural Resources.
Passive solar design is a method of capturing heat energy from the sun in winter and excluding it during summer. It has the potential to yield considerable energy savings at very low cost if included in the design stage of homebuilding. However, it is not being adopted. This study examined the failure of adoption of passive solar homes in Franklin County, Ohio from both supply- and demand- sides in four phases. The fist phase consisted of qualitative interviews with alternative energy advocates, building professionals, policy administrators in states with more favorable policies for passive solar, and Energy Efficient Mortgage raters and lenders. The interviews from different perspectives on the supply-side of the issue, combined with theory from different bodies of literature, provided a comprehensive picture of possible barriers to passive solar homes. Builders do not build passive solar homes because there are regulatory and procedural obstacles, they have little understanding of passive solar building, and since there is no demand, the status quo is working for them. Homebuyers may not demand passive solar homes because they are not satisfied with their design, there are few economic incentives, they are unavailable to purchase, or they have little awareness or understanding of them. The second phase consisted of interviews of passive solar homeowners to get a demand-side perspective from those who own them. These homeowners were generally very satisfied with their homes and did not reveal compelling reasons for the lack of adoption of passive solar homes. The supply- and demand-side interviews suggested the factors to be researched in the third phase. These factors (design, economic incentive, availability, and awareness) were the basis of a survey of new homebuyers in Franklin County. Results suggested design and economic incentives are not important factors, but unavailability and lack of awareness are very important. When homebuyers learn what passive solar is, they are very interested and more than half report they would pay at least five percent more for a passive solar home. The fourth phase consisted of an informational presentation on passive solar homes and other energy saving measures including cost/benefit analysis with pre- and post-tests administered. Comparison of pre- and post-tests indicated that information about passive solar homes increases interest and willingness-to-pay. However, information alone does not cause consumers to make purely rational decisions. Consumers seem to choose those energy-saving measures that have been strongly marketed over low-cost “orphaned innovations” that can save as much or more at lower cost, but do not provide large profits for marketers.
Tomas Koontz (Advisor)
Maria Manta Conroy (Committee Member)
Elena Irwin (Committee Member)
223 p.
Natural Resource Management

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Garrett, V. L. (2007). Adoption of Passive Solar Homes in Franklin County, Ohio: A Study from both Supply- and Demand-Sides [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391592437

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Garrett, Vicki. Adoption of Passive Solar Homes in Franklin County, Ohio: A Study from both Supply- and Demand-Sides. 2007. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391592437.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Garrett, Vicki. "Adoption of Passive Solar Homes in Franklin County, Ohio: A Study from both Supply- and Demand-Sides." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391592437

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1391592437
266
© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.