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Småhusägarnas syn på att köpa fjärrvärme. En studie av tillämpade försäljningsstrategier och kunders val vid konvertering från direktverkande el.

Sernhed, Kerstin LU and Pyrko, Jurek LU (2006) In Värmegles 2006:30
Abstract
Summary

This report presents results from the project ”Converting direct resistive electric heating into district

heating - customer related aspects” conducted at the division of Efficient Energy Systems, Department

of Energy Sciences, Lund University. The main objective of this study was to investigate how specific

households within one housing area (Sandsbro in Växjö with 110 one-family houses) experienced the

conversion process, in order to understand the reasons behind “yes” or “no” responses to the utility’s

offer. A qualitative approach with semi-structured in-depth interviews with a specially selected sample

of households from 10 converted and 13 not converted houses was... (More)
Summary

This report presents results from the project ”Converting direct resistive electric heating into district

heating - customer related aspects” conducted at the division of Efficient Energy Systems, Department

of Energy Sciences, Lund University. The main objective of this study was to investigate how specific

households within one housing area (Sandsbro in Växjö with 110 one-family houses) experienced the

conversion process, in order to understand the reasons behind “yes” or “no” responses to the utility’s

offer. A qualitative approach with semi-structured in-depth interviews with a specially selected sample

of households from 10 converted and 13 not converted houses was chosen as the main method.

The investigation led to the following conclusions and recommendations:

• Household reactions to the terms of sale and conversion:

Many households felt that the decisions were rushed - there is a need for better planning, especially for

the older households. The information provided was evaluated as detailed and sufficient. The

“demonstration villa” was a good idea but the installation should be done more professionally -

aesthetics are very important here. Home visits were the only personal contact and should be

conducted in all houses in order to answer questions and explain problems. Co-ordination of

excavation should be better in order to limit the time the ground is open. A few of the households

undertook some of the works themselves to reduce costs but the compensation was often considered as

too low to motivate customers.

• Household opinions on the product and/or service:

Almost all households felt that the thermal comfort was better than before - more stable indoor

temperature, no problems with overheated radiators or smell of burning dust. On the other hand, hot

water comfort was worse - longer waiting time for hot water and too low water temperature during

summer. Aesthetics were considered very important and could be crucial for the decision to convert

the heating system. Many of the interviewed households were uncertain how to adjust and take care of

the system - there is a notable need for information here.

• Household understanding of the economic terms of the district heating conversion:

It was clear that many of the interviewed households did not have a view about the change of energy

costs after conversion. It was also difficult for them to make a profitability analysis before the

decision. However, the offer was considered to be very favourable in this specific case. It is important

that the offer and investment comes at the right time for the households - regardless of the price. One

argument raised against district heating conversion was fear of monopoly and high energy costs. All

households, even those not converted, were convinced that the investment would be paid back in the

future because of an increased property value following conversion.

Household reasons to say “no” to district heating conversion:

• The household has recently invested in a new heating system or in a secondary system,

• Negative views about aesthetics of the waterborne system,

• It’s too labour intensive to convert,

• Wrong facts or misunderstanding.

Household reasons to say “yes” to district heating conversion:

• Improved thermal comfort,

• Convenience,

• Low investment costs

• Expectations about lower energy costs,

• Few alternatives to direct resistive space heating,

• Better than electricity from an environmental point of view.

Statistical analysis proved that variables such as “age”, “type of household” and “energy use level”

could, to some extent, be related to the decision to convert from electric radiators to district heating. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Book/Report
publication status
published
subject
keywords
värmegles, försäljningsstrategier, marknadsföring, fjärrvärme, småhusägare, direktverkande el, konvertering
in
Värmegles 2006:30
pages
98 pages
publisher
Svensk Fjärrvärme
report number
30
ISSN
1401-9264
language
Swedish
LU publication?
yes
id
97cc7989-05c5-451c-bf20-ffcc90ffca0a (old id 576568)
alternative location
http://www.svenskfjarrvarme.se/download/4269/
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:53:14
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:44:59
@techreport{97cc7989-05c5-451c-bf20-ffcc90ffca0a,
  abstract     = {{Summary<br/><br>
This report presents results from the project ”Converting direct resistive electric heating into district<br/><br>
heating - customer related aspects” conducted at the division of Efficient Energy Systems, Department<br/><br>
of Energy Sciences, Lund University. The main objective of this study was to investigate how specific<br/><br>
households within one housing area (Sandsbro in Växjö with 110 one-family houses) experienced the<br/><br>
conversion process, in order to understand the reasons behind “yes” or “no” responses to the utility’s<br/><br>
offer. A qualitative approach with semi-structured in-depth interviews with a specially selected sample<br/><br>
of households from 10 converted and 13 not converted houses was chosen as the main method.<br/><br>
The investigation led to the following conclusions and recommendations:<br/><br>
• Household reactions to the terms of sale and conversion:<br/><br>
Many households felt that the decisions were rushed - there is a need for better planning, especially for<br/><br>
the older households. The information provided was evaluated as detailed and sufficient. The<br/><br>
“demonstration villa” was a good idea but the installation should be done more professionally -<br/><br>
aesthetics are very important here. Home visits were the only personal contact and should be<br/><br>
conducted in all houses in order to answer questions and explain problems. Co-ordination of<br/><br>
excavation should be better in order to limit the time the ground is open. A few of the households<br/><br>
undertook some of the works themselves to reduce costs but the compensation was often considered as<br/><br>
too low to motivate customers.<br/><br>
• Household opinions on the product and/or service:<br/><br>
Almost all households felt that the thermal comfort was better than before - more stable indoor<br/><br>
temperature, no problems with overheated radiators or smell of burning dust. On the other hand, hot<br/><br>
water comfort was worse - longer waiting time for hot water and too low water temperature during<br/><br>
summer. Aesthetics were considered very important and could be crucial for the decision to convert<br/><br>
the heating system. Many of the interviewed households were uncertain how to adjust and take care of<br/><br>
the system - there is a notable need for information here.<br/><br>
• Household understanding of the economic terms of the district heating conversion:<br/><br>
It was clear that many of the interviewed households did not have a view about the change of energy<br/><br>
costs after conversion. It was also difficult for them to make a profitability analysis before the<br/><br>
decision. However, the offer was considered to be very favourable in this specific case. It is important<br/><br>
that the offer and investment comes at the right time for the households - regardless of the price. One<br/><br>
argument raised against district heating conversion was fear of monopoly and high energy costs. All<br/><br>
households, even those not converted, were convinced that the investment would be paid back in the<br/><br>
future because of an increased property value following conversion.<br/><br>
Household reasons to say “no” to district heating conversion:<br/><br>
• The household has recently invested in a new heating system or in a secondary system,<br/><br>
• Negative views about aesthetics of the waterborne system,<br/><br>
• It’s too labour intensive to convert,<br/><br>
• Wrong facts or misunderstanding.<br/><br>
Household reasons to say “yes” to district heating conversion:<br/><br>
• Improved thermal comfort,<br/><br>
• Convenience,<br/><br>
• Low investment costs<br/><br>
• Expectations about lower energy costs,<br/><br>
• Few alternatives to direct resistive space heating,<br/><br>
• Better than electricity from an environmental point of view.<br/><br>
Statistical analysis proved that variables such as “age”, “type of household” and “energy use level”<br/><br>
could, to some extent, be related to the decision to convert from electric radiators to district heating.}},
  author       = {{Sernhed, Kerstin and Pyrko, Jurek}},
  institution  = {{Svensk Fjärrvärme}},
  issn         = {{1401-9264}},
  keywords     = {{värmegles; försäljningsstrategier; marknadsföring; fjärrvärme; småhusägare; direktverkande el; konvertering}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  number       = {{30}},
  series       = {{Värmegles 2006:30}},
  title        = {{Småhusägarnas syn på att köpa fjärrvärme. En studie av tillämpade försäljningsstrategier och kunders val vid konvertering från direktverkande el.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4809744/576569.pdf}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}