Critical Factors Influencing the Adoption of Smart Home Energy Technology in China: A Guangdong Province Case Study

Abstract

Smart home energy technology has been verified to be successful for energy reduction in the residential sector. However, the current penetration rate of smart home energy technology is at a low level. Considering the factors of economy, policy, and demographics, Guangdong Province in China is a suitable region as an exemplary case to promote smart home energy technology through the urban residents. Therefore, using Guangdong as the targeting area, this research examined the factors influencing residents’ intention to adopt smart home energy technology. A theoretical model based on the theory of planned behavior and Norm Activation Model theory was developed, with special consideration of the complex technical features. A questionnaire survey was performed in Guangdong Province and the data was analyzed by PLS-SEM. The analysis results indicated that residents’ attitude towards technical performance, social norm, perceived behavioral control, and personal norm all have positive influence on the adoption intention, of which, attitude towards technical performance had the strongest effect. On the other hand, the attitude towards economic performance was found not to lead adoption intention. To explain this consequence, the discussion based on behavioral economics was proposed.