Navigating Change: The Impact of Experiences and Preferences on the Heating Sector Transition

Transformation pathways for residential heating indicate that electrification, particularly through high shares of heat pumps (HP), is the most cost-effective route to climate neutrality. While the use of HP for space and water heating is growing, it remains limited. To accelerate their adoption, it is crucial to identify barriers that households face. This study examines both economic and non-economic factors influencing household perceptions and evaluations of HP, as well as their adoption likelihood. An online survey of around 8,800 participants across eleven EU countries revealed that attitudes towards HP, peer experiences, and current heating system evaluations are key adoption drivers, while cost concerns are less significant. However, the actual decision to adopt HP is more influenced by technical and financial constraints. The findings emphasize the complex interplay of individual values and experiences in promoting sustainable heating solutions, financial issues and the need for positive outreach and supportive policies.