Leverages of energy transition at home: a critical discussion of barriers and future trends

Abstract The transition of the residential sector to a more sustainable energy system is regarded as a crucial action. Thus, significant efforts have been spent to promote deep energy retrofitting of existing inefficient assets. In addition, in more recent times, academics have begun to consider the potential for behavioral change among households to generate energy savings for the sector. This has led to the emergence of a growing body of literature aimed at understanding how to mobilize energy demand reduction potential that can be prompted by households’ behavioral change. Based on findings from a systematic literature review by the Authors, the paper tries to speculate upon four main dichotomic approaches that are retrieved within. These include behavioral-driven versus technological-driven approaches, awareness-raising versus rewarding or incentive-based systems, structural measures such as home retrofitting or the shift to clean energy, and provisional measures such as subsidies and tax rebates for vulnerable consumers. The paper also considers individual/customized measures versus collective policies towards energy transition. Based on that, common grounds are sought to advance effective strategies enabling energy transition of the residential sector. The drivers and limitations of the various approaches are also discussed in this context.