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This paper investigates drivers or hindrances to households' adoption of behavioural changes concerning energy efficiency at home. A Choice Experiment survey has been conducted to elicit households' preferences regarding adoption of innovative heating/cooling systems in Ireland and Italy. The choice data is analysed through a Latent Class model, and posterior analysis is used for class profiling, aimed to detect the emergence of factors identified in the literature. In both country samples respondents could be grouped in three classes according to their preferences and willingness to pay for adoption of innovative heat pump systems. Early adopters, younger and with higher education, exhibit strong pro-innovation attitudes. Conversely, Laggards, typically older and less educated, display hesitancy, and may require substantial subsidies for adoption. Late adopters value trialability and rely less on social networks. Information processing varies according to individual capabilities and social contexts. Hence, we recommend targeted information to enhance awareness of benefits and on feasibility of installation in different types of dwelling. Technical information and support, possibly complemented by demonstration activities, is suggested to foster innovation, especially among less advantaged households. • Assessment of drivers and barriers to adoption of energy efficient heating systems. • A survey with Choice Experiments in Ireland and Italy. • Willingness to pay for innovative systems is assessed through a Latent Class model. • Three classes identified with specific preferences and willingness to pay. • Profiling confirms the importance of attitudinal factors and trialability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an analysis of six Mediterranean countries as regards public acceptance of Photovoltaic (PV) and Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) technologies. The analysis considers both the private dimension (i.e. willingness to install a specific PV system) and the public dimension (i.e. acceptability of BIPV applications in the urban context where the individual resides). As regards the latter, we propose simulations of BIPV applications in residential buildings representative of each city, and elicit preferences for different technological and aesthetic solutions, conditional on different levels of information on the cost effectiveness of each option. The results show that awareness of the benefits arising from the PV installation and attachment toward the city are important drivers in both the public and private dimensions. A comparative analysis across countries suggests that Italian, Tunisian and Jordanian respondents seem the most interested in BIPV technologies, either when considering a possible investment for their household, and when evaluating applications in the buildings presented in the experimental scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes a discrete choice model that jointly accounts for heterogeneity in preferences and in decision making procedures adopted by respondents, as well as for non-linearities in the utility function, allowing for the potential effect of salient attributes in choice experiments. We present an innovative application in the context of preferences towards nuclear energy, with data obtained from a nationwide online survey conducted in Italy. Results show that most of the variation in the choice data is indeed due to heterogeneity in the decision process, where the saliency heuristic plays an important role. Furthermore, the proposed model provides more conservative monetary valuations as opposed to standard models, potentially leading to substantial differences in cost-benefit analysis. Implications for choice modeling practitioners are discussed, emphasizing the need to account for saliency effects when modeling the choice data. • We test saliency-led choice behavior with a focus on preferences for nuclear energy. • We account for saliency and more heuristics by means of a RPL-LC model. • Saliency accounts for a substantial share of choice variation in our data. • Resulting WTA estimates are more conservative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]