What’s it going to take?

If you build it – will the public come?

The Consumer Electronics Association conducted a study to determine consumer interest in energy-efficient technology. They found consumers are very interested – but only if there is a really good reason.

“Home Technologies and Energy Efficiency: A Look At Behaviors, Issues and Solutions” reveals consumers will tolerate an increase of 31 per cent in bills before taking action and independently investing in technology.

Slightly more than half said behavioral adjustments, combined with new technology, will reduce their home energy costs.  Consumers are interested in do-it-yourself solutions as much as professionally-installed ones.  Frequently, home improvement stores are the first places they turn when they feel like making a change.

They are also more likely than ever to take energy efficiency into consideration when making everyday purchasing decisions. Consumers have been shown to be aware of things like the Energy Star designation, and are using it to make smarter purchases.

Additionally, the study determined that while consumers need an incentive (i.e. increased utility bills), the demand for energy-efficient technology is on the rise overall. One-tenth of homes have had an energy audit.  Of those who had, 61% replaced their old electronics and appliances with more energy efficient ones.

With conventional energy becoming ever more costly, the CEA is certain that more and more consumers will be turned on to possibly investing in energy-efficient technology.