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Energy consumers want change. They just can’t afford it right now.

Announcement posted by Connection Research 10 Nov 2010

Sydney, 10 November 2010.

Sydney, 10 November 2010.

Australians are ready for alternative power. They want it now, and they are willing to pay for it if they are sure that it will save them money in the long run. That is one of the key findings of the important new survey Residential Energy Management in Australia 2010 from Connection Research, which gives a detailed overview of Australian households’ attitudes to alternative energy.

Over 2700 households were surveyed across Australia. They were asked about a wide range of issues concerning energy efficiency and climate change. One of the key findings is that support for solar power and wind power is strong, as is support for the more nonspecific ‘green power’.

There is much less support for “clean coal” and nuclear energy, where views continue to be polarised.

The overwhelming majority of respondents (almost 90%) agree that saving energy can save them money. But few are willing to spend significant amounts on any upfront costs. The survey found that one of the biggest barriers people have to switching to any sort of energy saving technology is price. Even government run rebates such as the solar hot water rebate or home insulation plan are undersubscribed because people can’t afford the initial expenditure.

“Solar power is now hitting mainstream in Australia,” says Graeme Philipson, Connection Research’s research director and co-author of the report. “But government support is ad hoc and uncoordinated – look at the NSW Government’s recent policy changes. Many other western countries are now using significant amounts of solar power, and the sunburnt country is starting to catch up. The Solar Bonus Scheme in NSW was modified because of the unexpectedly high number of applicants. This is an example of how eager Australians are to switch to greener energy technologies.”

The report by Connection Research also includes trend analyses based on data gathered in the previous years. The number of home with solar hot water has almost doubled since 2009, while the number of homes using electricity and gas as a water heater has dropped. “This is a clear indication of the move away from non-renewable energy sources.” says Mr Philipson.

The report’s findings were discussed at the Smart Homes conference at Melbourne on 11 November, where Mr Philipson gave the opening address. “The bottom line is that people are very concerned about energy costs, and want to do something about them,” he says. “But there remain many factors stopping them moving in that direction – uncoordinated government policies, a lack of information about options and alternatives, difficulty in changing suppliers, no clear return on investment.

“These problems will be overcome, because there are simply too many long-term imperatives driving people towards energy efficiency.”

For more information about the Residential Energy Management in Australia report contact Cassandra Phillips on +61 2 9467 9833

www.connectionresearch.com.au

Connection Research is an Australian market research and analysis company with a focus on corporate and consumer usage of sustainable and digital technologies. Its primary methodology is demand-side research, surveying consumers of technology about usage patterns, attitudes and plans. It operates across four practice areas: Green IT, Carbon and Compliance, Building Industry and Trades, and Community Sustainability.