The type of consumers who have installed renewable technologies, and the obstacles to installation, show that there is still a significant way to go to make microgeneration accessible to all. But most consumers with installed systems have had a positive experience, which is encouraging others to invest.
This report brings together complementary consumer research by Consumer Focus and the Energy Saving Trust that identifies lessons for the:
- Feed-in Tariff (FiT) reviews
- Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) development and delivery
- Green Deal development and delivery
Consumer Focus and the Energy Saving Trust support the Government’s development of a Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation for existing homes: to improve the housing stock and cut exposure to rising energy bills; and to cut carbon emissions. However, there are likely to be problems in this marketplace, the scale of which will depend on the development and resourcing of skills, standards and enforcement. With this report Consumer Focus brings together its survey of microgeneration consumers’ experience with the Energy Saving Trust’s research of consumer attitudes. We identify how these problems can be avoided both in the future of the FiT and in related consumer-facing low carbon policies.
The research follows consumers through the four main stages of attitudes and behaviours towards technology.
