Understanding Intention to Adopt Smart Thermostats: The Role of Individual Predictors and Social Beliefs Across Five EU Countries

Mona Bielig, Mona Bielig, Florian Kutzner, Sonja Klingert, Celina Kacperski, Celina Kacperski

2025

Abstract

Heating of buildings represents a significant share of the energy consumption in Europe. Smart thermostats that capitalize on the data-driven analysis of heating patterns in order to optimize heat supply are a very promising part of building energy management technology. However, factors driving their acceptance by buildings’ inhabitants are poorly understood although being a prerequisite for fully tapping on their potential. In order to understand the driving forces of technology adoption in this use case, a large survey (N = 2250) was conducted in five EU countries (Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Greece). For the data analysis structural equation modelling based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) was employed, which was extended by adding social beliefs, including descriptive social norms, collective efficacy, social identity and trust. As a result, performance expectancy, price value, and effort expectancy proved to be the most important predictors overall, with variations across countries. In sum, the adoption of smart thermostats appears more strongly associated with individual beliefs about their functioning, potentially reducing their adoption. At the end of the paper, implications for policy making and marketing of smart heating technologies are discussed.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Bielig M., Kutzner F., Klingert S. and Kacperski C. (2025). Understanding Intention to Adopt Smart Thermostats: The Role of Individual Predictors and Social Beliefs Across Five EU Countries. In Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Smart Cities and Green ICT Systems - Volume 1: SMARTGREENS; ISBN 978-989-758-751-1, SciTePress, pages 36-47. DOI: 10.5220/0013356200003953

in Bibtex Style

@conference{smartgreens25,
author={Mona Bielig and Florian Kutzner and Sonja Klingert and Celina Kacperski},
title={Understanding Intention to Adopt Smart Thermostats: The Role of Individual Predictors and Social Beliefs Across Five EU Countries},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Smart Cities and Green ICT Systems - Volume 1: SMARTGREENS},
year={2025},
pages={36-47},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013356200003953},
isbn={978-989-758-751-1},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Smart Cities and Green ICT Systems - Volume 1: SMARTGREENS
TI - Understanding Intention to Adopt Smart Thermostats: The Role of Individual Predictors and Social Beliefs Across Five EU Countries
SN - 978-989-758-751-1
AU - Bielig M.
AU - Kutzner F.
AU - Klingert S.
AU - Kacperski C.
PY - 2025
SP - 36
EP - 47
DO - 10.5220/0013356200003953
PB - SciTePress