SURVEYING THE EDGES: HOMEOWNERS' PERSPECTIVES ON RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS IN OHIO

Abstract

While energy costs, home size, and home age in Ohio fall into an average range for the United States as a whole, homes in Ohio are well below the average price, making homeowners particularly cost sensitive when considering investments on energy savings features. In addition, Ohio is the seventh largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the nation, suggesting that reducing energy use can have an outsized environmental impact. These not only pose a tremendous challenge but also an urgency to home energy conservation in Ohio. This study examines residential consumers' understanding of and attitudes toward various energy efficiency measures (EEMs) and renewable energy systems (RESs) through a questionnaire survey with a sample size of 519 Ohio homeowners. The survey results not only revealed Ohio homeowners' knowledge gap but also identified barriers to implementing these improvements. The findings can assist in developing high-quality, well-tailored education and outreach programs to help homeowners make informed energy saving decisions. They can also help guide local policy decisions and the development of effective initiatives or incentive programs. This study suggests that it is imperative to fill the knowledge gap among homeowners, educate them about reasonable expectations on return on investment, and increase their awareness of non-energy benefits that could be achieved through home energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements.