SOLAR WATER HEATING IN QUEENSLAND: THE ROLES OF INNOVATION ATTRIBUTES, ATTITUDES AND INFORMATION IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS

Foster, John B.

doi:10.1080/08109029308629355

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Prometheus

Volume 11, Issue 2

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SOLAR WATER HEATING IN QUEENSLAND: THE ROLES OF INNOVATION ATTRIBUTES, ATTITUDES AND INFORMATION IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS

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Author(s): John Foster

Publication date (Print): December 1993

Journal: Prometheus

Publisher: Pluto Journals

Keywords: solar water heating, solar acceptance, renewable energy use, energy policy, innovation diffusion, Queensland

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Abstract

The public acceptance of solar domestic water heaters in Australia is explored with special reference to Queensland. Classical diffusion-of-innovations theory is used as the basis for a telephone survey of over 400 new Queensland householders. Survey results indicate that solar water heaters were readily available for purchase and imply that limited effort needs to be expended on further establishing consumer awareness in the market examined. Householders typically established technical feasibility before serious consideration of the solar option and financial viability before adoption. Friends, neighbours and social networks were very important in communicating relevant information. Survey responses suggest that government agencies and electricity authorities played a limited role in promoting the use of solar water heaters for new housing in Queensland. Some policy implications and promotional measures are discussed.

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Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): cpro20

Journal ID (archive): CPRO

Title: Prometheus

Subtitle: Critical Studies in Innovation

Publisher: Pluto Journals

ISSN (Print): 0810-9028

ISSN (Electronic): 1470-1030

Publication date (Print): December 1993

Volume: 11

Issue: 2

Pages: 219-233

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Article

Publisher ID: 8629355 Coden ID: Prometheus, Vol. 11, No. 2, 1993: pp. 219–233

DOI: 10.1080/08109029308629355

SO-VID: d32effa6-cda6-4e3a-af6f-890a24e12e23

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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Figures: 0, Tables: 0, References: 41, Pages: 15

NOTES AND REFERENCES

World Commission on Environment and Development. . 1987. . Our Common Future . , Oxford : : Oxford University Press. .
Holdren J. P.. 1990. . Energy in transition. . scientific American . , Vol. 263((3)): 108––115. .
See, for example: A. D. Owen, ‘Energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gases’, Prometheus, 9, 1, 1991, pp.102–121; M. Johnson and S. Rix (eds), Powering the Future, Pluto Press, Sydney, 1991; P. Kinrade, ‘Energy: Looking for win-win solutions’, Habitat, February 1992, pp.16–17.
Morse R. N.. 1990. . The Australian solar manufacturing industry in review. . sunworld . , Vol. 14((2)): 39––43. .
J. S. Foster, Policies and the Interstate Diffusion of Solar Water Heaters in Australia, Occasional Paper No.7, Science Policy Research Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, 1990.
P. Ester, G. Gaskell, B. Joerges, C.J.H. Midden et al., Consumer Behaviour and Energy Policy, North-Holland, Amsterdam. 1984.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Energy Survey: Households, Appliances, Facilities and Insulation, Australia, 1985/86, Central Office, Canberra, 1988.
See, for example, I. Walker, ‘The prospects for using new renewable energy technologies in Australia’, solar Progress, December, 1988.
Lowe I., Backhouse D. E. and Sheumack M.. 1984. . The experience of solar hot water systems. . search . , Vol. 15((5–6)): 165––167. .
M. Diesendorf, ‘Non-technical barriers to renewable energy’, solar ′87 Conference Proceedings, Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Canberra, 1987, pp.201–208.
A. J. Bradbrook, solar Energy and the Law, Law Book Co, Melbourne, 1984.
Foster, op. cit.
ibid.
K.I. Guthrie, M.R. Shaw, & H.R. Mendelsohn, ‘Marketing solar water heaters’, solar ′90 Conference Proceedings, Australia and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Auckland, 1990, pp.197–204; F. Harman, L. Stacker, I. Walker, and M. Stirling, Barriers to the Use of Renewable Energy in Western Australia, Institute for Science and Technology Policy, Murdoch University, Perth, 1991; M.V. Oliphant, ‘Increasing solar water heater penetration in South Australia’, solar ′91 Conference Proceedings, Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Adelaide, 1991, pp.401–408.
Kelly P. and Kranzberg M.. 1978. . Technological Innovation: A Critical Review of Current Knowledge . , San Francisco : : San Francisco Press. .
Rogers E. M. and Shoemaker F. F.. 1971. . Communications of Innovations: A Cross-Cultural Approach . , 2nd ed. , New York : : Free Press. .
Rogers E. M.. 1983. . Diffusion of Innovations . , 3rd ed. , New York : : Free Press. .
See, for example: H. C. Jones, Residential Solar Energy Use in Michigan, Unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Michigan, Michigan, 1987; G. Guagnano, G.R. Hawkes, C. Acredolo and N. White, ‘Innovation perception and adoption of solar heating technology’, Journal of Consumer Affairs, 20, 1, 1986, pp.49–64; S. Warkov and J.W. Meyer, solar Diffusion and Public Incentives, Lexington Books, Lexington, 1982; A. Shama, ‘Speeding the diffusion of solar energy innovations’, Energy, 7, 8, pp.705–715; D.G. LaBay and T.C. Kinnear, ‘Exploring the consumer decision-making process’, Journal of Consumer Research, 8, 1981, pp.271–278; E.M. Rogers, D. Leonard-Barton, T. Avi-Itzhak, E. Rosa and R. Adhikarya, Solar Diffusion in California: A Pilot Study, Stanford University, Institute for Communication Research, Stanford, 1979.
Kelly and Kranzberg, op. cit.
Rogers and Shoemaker, op. cit.
Rogers, op. cit.
Ostlund L. E.. 1974. . Perceived innovation attributes as predictors of innovativeness. . Journal of Consumer Research . , Vol. 1:: 23––29. .
ibid.
Australia PA. . 1981. . A Study of the Potential for New Investment in Solar Heating and Related Equipment in New South Wales . , Sydney : : New South Wales Government. .
Foster, op. cit.
P. Versluis, ‘Solar hot water systems in Australia: State of the Industry’ solar ′88 Conference Proceedings, Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Melbourne, 1988, pp.1–12 to 1–25.
Foster, op. cit.
Rogers, op. cit.
J. S. Foster, Exploring the Acceptance of Solar Efficient Housing in Queensland, Australia (Doctoral thesis, Department of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 1992).
Guagnano et al., op. cit.
Marradi A.. 1981. . “Factor analysis as an aid in the formation and refinement of empirically useful concepts. ”. In Factor Analysis and Measurement in Sociological Research: A Multi-dimensional perspective . , Edited by: Jackson D. J. and Borgatta E. F.. Beverly Hills : : Sage Publications. .
Guagnano et al., op. cit.
N. Bita and B. Woodley, ‘Electricity price war damaged solar sales’, The Australian, 28 March 1991.
Ecologically Sustainable Development Working Groups, Final Report: Executive Summaries, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1991; Department of Primary Industries and Energy, Issues in Energy Policy: An Agenda for the 1990s, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1991; Kinrade, op. cit.
Queensland Department of Resource Industries, Energy Policy Directions for Queensland into the 21st Century, Queensland Government, Brisbane, 1991.
P. Versluis, ‘Solar water heating: State of the industry three years on’, solar ′91 Conference Proceedings, Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Adelaide, 1991, pp.392–400.
Foster, 1992, op. cit.
Renewable Energy Authority of Victoria, 1990/91 Annual Report, Melbourne, 1991.
Hagen and Kaneff, op. cit.
Foster, 1992, op. cit.
Versluis, 1991, op. cit.

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] World Commission on Environment and Development. . 1987. . Our Common Future . , Oxford : : Oxford University Press. .

[2] Holdren J. P.. 1990. . Energy in transition. . scientific American . , Vol. 263((3)): 108––115. .

[3] See, for example: A. D. Owen, ‘Energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gases’, Prometheus, 9, 1, 1991, pp.102–121; M. Johnson and S. Rix (eds), Powering the Future, Pluto Press, Sydney, 1991; P. Kinrade, ‘Energy: Looking for win-win solutions’, Habitat, February 1992, pp.16–17.

[4] Morse R. N.. 1990. . The Australian solar manufacturing industry in review. . sunworld . , Vol. 14((2)): 39––43. .

[5] J. S. Foster, Policies and the Interstate Diffusion of Solar Water Heaters in Australia, Occasional Paper No.7, Science Policy Research Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, 1990.

[6] P. Ester, G. Gaskell, B. Joerges, C.J.H. Midden et al., Consumer Behaviour and Energy Policy, North-Holland, Amsterdam. 1984.

[7] Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Energy Survey: Households, Appliances, Facilities and Insulation, Australia, 1985/86, Central Office, Canberra, 1988.

[8] See, for example, I. Walker, ‘The prospects for using new renewable energy technologies in Australia’, solar Progress, December, 1988.

[9] Lowe I., Backhouse D. E. and Sheumack M.. 1984. . The experience of solar hot water systems. . search . , Vol. 15((5–6)): 165––167. .

[10] M. Diesendorf, ‘Non-technical barriers to renewable energy’, solar ′87 Conference Proceedings, Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Canberra, 1987, pp.201–208.

[11] A. J. Bradbrook, solar Energy and the Law, Law Book Co, Melbourne, 1984.

[12] Foster, op. cit.

[13] ibid.

[14] K.I. Guthrie, M.R. Shaw, & H.R. Mendelsohn, ‘Marketing solar water heaters’, solar ′90 Conference Proceedings, Australia and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Auckland, 1990, pp.197–204; F. Harman, L. Stacker, I. Walker, and M. Stirling, Barriers to the Use of Renewable Energy in Western Australia, Institute for Science and Technology Policy, Murdoch University, Perth, 1991; M.V. Oliphant, ‘Increasing solar water heater penetration in South Australia’, solar ′91 Conference Proceedings, Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Adelaide, 1991, pp.401–408.

[15] Kelly P. and Kranzberg M.. 1978. . Technological Innovation: A Critical Review of Current Knowledge . , San Francisco : : San Francisco Press. .

[16] Rogers E. M. and Shoemaker F. F.. 1971. . Communications of Innovations: A Cross-Cultural Approach . , 2nd ed. , New York : : Free Press. .

[17] Rogers E. M.. 1983. . Diffusion of Innovations . , 3rd ed. , New York : : Free Press. .

[18] See, for example: H. C. Jones, Residential Solar Energy Use in Michigan, Unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Michigan, Michigan, 1987; G. Guagnano, G.R. Hawkes, C. Acredolo and N. White, ‘Innovation perception and adoption of solar heating technology’, Journal of Consumer Affairs, 20, 1, 1986, pp.49–64; S. Warkov and J.W. Meyer, solar Diffusion and Public Incentives, Lexington Books, Lexington, 1982; A. Shama, ‘Speeding the diffusion of solar energy innovations’, Energy, 7, 8, pp.705–715; D.G. LaBay and T.C. Kinnear, ‘Exploring the consumer decision-making process’, Journal of Consumer Research, 8, 1981, pp.271–278; E.M. Rogers, D. Leonard-Barton, T. Avi-Itzhak, E. Rosa and R. Adhikarya, Solar Diffusion in California: A Pilot Study, Stanford University, Institute for Communication Research, Stanford, 1979.

[19] Kelly and Kranzberg, op. cit.

[20] Rogers and Shoemaker, op. cit.

[21] Rogers, op. cit.

[22] Ostlund L. E.. 1974. . Perceived innovation attributes as predictors of innovativeness. . Journal of Consumer Research . , Vol. 1:: 23––29. .

[23] ibid.

[24] Australia PA. . 1981. . A Study of the Potential for New Investment in Solar Heating and Related Equipment in New South Wales . , Sydney : : New South Wales Government. .

[25] Foster, op. cit.

[26] P. Versluis, ‘Solar hot water systems in Australia: State of the Industry’ solar ′88 Conference Proceedings, Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Melbourne, 1988, pp.1–12 to 1–25.

[27] Foster, op. cit.

[28] Rogers, op. cit.

[29] J. S. Foster, Exploring the Acceptance of Solar Efficient Housing in Queensland, Australia (Doctoral thesis, Department of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 1992).

[30] Guagnano et al., op. cit.

[31] Marradi A.. 1981. . “Factor analysis as an aid in the formation and refinement of empirically useful concepts. ”. In Factor Analysis and Measurement in Sociological Research: A Multi-dimensional perspective . , Edited by: Jackson D. J. and Borgatta E. F.. Beverly Hills : : Sage Publications. .

[32] Guagnano et al., op. cit.

[33] N. Bita and B. Woodley, ‘Electricity price war damaged solar sales’, The Australian, 28 March 1991.

[34] Ecologically Sustainable Development Working Groups, Final Report: Executive Summaries, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1991; Department of Primary Industries and Energy, Issues in Energy Policy: An Agenda for the 1990s, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1991; Kinrade, op. cit.

[35] Queensland Department of Resource Industries, Energy Policy Directions for Queensland into the 21st Century, Queensland Government, Brisbane, 1991.

[36] P. Versluis, ‘Solar water heating: State of the industry three years on’, solar ′91 Conference Proceedings, Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, Adelaide, 1991, pp.392–400.

[37] Foster, 1992, op. cit.

[38] Renewable Energy Authority of Victoria, 1990/91 Annual Report, Melbourne, 1991.

[39] Hagen and Kaneff, op. cit.

[40] Foster, 1992, op. cit.

[41] Versluis, 1991, op. cit.

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SOLAR WATER HEATING IN QUEENSLAND: THE ROLES OF INNOVATION ATTRIBUTES, ATTITUDES AND INFORMATION IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS

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