First Advisor

Tugrul U. Daim

Term of Graduation

Summer 2020

Date of Publication

7-10-2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Technology Management

Department

Engineering and Technology Management

Language

English

Subjects

Technology -- Management, Multiple criteria decision making, Water heaters -- Technological innovations, Energy consumption -- Technological innovations

DOI

10.15760/etd.7386

Physical Description

1 online resource (xvi, 206 pages)

Abstract

The Diffusion of Residential Energy Efficient (EE) Technologies has been studied for many years. Finding ways to bridge the energy efficiency gap and increase the diffusion of these technologies have been of much interest to researchers and practitioners alike. However, in most studies, diffusion is equated to adoption of EE technologies by consumers. The present study tries to break this mindset and develops a model to assess the diffusion of residential EE technologies from the market's perspective. The model assesses diffusion of an EE technology based on the market's ability to provide benefits to customers that are identified to be most important. A Hierarchical Decision Model (HDM) has been developed with market attributes as the criteria, and subcriteria being the key components or product/service values that help to develop market attributes. The model has been validated by experts from different parts of the country with a background in clean energy, sustainability, energy conservation and energy efficiency. The relative weights of market attributes and key components are derived from experts' judgment quantification. The Economic Market attribute is found to be the most important aspect for increasing diffusion of residential EE technologies followed by Consumers' Benefit and Legal & Institutional Market attributes. Codes and Standards are identified as the most significant key component that contributes to the development of Legal and Institutional Market attribute. The model is applied to compare the Market Diffusion Potential (MDP) of three competitive water heating technology cases with diverse fuel source, namely, Ductless Heat Pump (DHP) Water Heater, Solar Water Heater (SWH) and Tankless Gas Water Heater (TGWH). DHP shows the highest MDP followed by SWH and TGWH. Low rating key elements in the model for each of the technology cases are recognized and ways to improve the rating by probable interventions has been identified for better MDP. With appropriate measures it is possible to improve the MDP of DHP by 9% while that of SWH and TGWH can be improved by 20% and 11% respectively. A scenario analysis provides an analysis of the effect of hypothetical market approach that helps to elicit nonconsequential market approach, focus on specific market approach to increase MDP of a candidate technology as well as formulate appropriate actions to improve MDP of EE technologies.

The research contributes in several ways to the existing knowledge bank of residential EE technology diffusion. It provides an elaborate literature review on market attributes with associated components that help to develop the market attributes. The model allows to identify low rating attributes and helps to improve MDP by taking appropriate actions. Also, sensitivity analysis provides a snapshot of hypothetical situations that help decision makers to realize what to expect in case of extreme market situations and improve MDP of residential EE technologies by selecting appropriate business inclination strategy for excelling. The model can have several practical applications. The results of MDP assessment would aid in market transformation, utility program selection, as well as feed in information for R & D on prospective EE technologies and a wide array of other organizations with diversified interests in energy savings, climate change, and sustainability.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/33551

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