We present a comparative analysis of surveys distributed to home occupants and construction professionals in the U.S., focused on energy upgrades and electrification retrofits that support residential building decarbonization. The surveys were executed by separate research groups and combined for this study. The study examines the decision-making, sentiments, perceptions, experiences, and practices of both groups by analyzing data from three separate surveys. These surveys assess technologies, attitudes, awareness, motivations, barriers, and opportu- nities related to energy retrofits and electrification. The analysis highlights key differences in the perceptions and behaviors of households and construction professionals, revealing substantial barriers to achieving decarbon- ization goals. For example, households cite climate change and sustainability as key motivators for pursuing energy retrofits (89 %), while construction industry professionals view these themes as less important for their clients (44 %). This suggests an opportunity for the construction industry to align its messaging with the values that households prioritize, helping to advance residential decarbonization. Overall, the study identifies chal- lenges faced by both groups, factors influencing the adoption of energy-efficient practices, and inconsistencies between occupant and construction industry professionals' views. These insights contribute to the development of targeted strategies and policies to accelerate the decarbonization of residential buildings in the U.S.
BT - Energy Research & Social Science DA - 02/2025 DO - 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103908 N2 -We present a comparative analysis of surveys distributed to home occupants and construction professionals in the U.S., focused on energy upgrades and electrification retrofits that support residential building decarbonization. The surveys were executed by separate research groups and combined for this study. The study examines the decision-making, sentiments, perceptions, experiences, and practices of both groups by analyzing data from three separate surveys. These surveys assess technologies, attitudes, awareness, motivations, barriers, and opportu- nities related to energy retrofits and electrification. The analysis highlights key differences in the perceptions and behaviors of households and construction professionals, revealing substantial barriers to achieving decarbon- ization goals. For example, households cite climate change and sustainability as key motivators for pursuing energy retrofits (89 %), while construction industry professionals view these themes as less important for their clients (44 %). This suggests an opportunity for the construction industry to align its messaging with the values that households prioritize, helping to advance residential decarbonization. Overall, the study identifies chal- lenges faced by both groups, factors influencing the adoption of energy-efficient practices, and inconsistencies between occupant and construction industry professionals' views. These insights contribute to the development of targeted strategies and policies to accelerate the decarbonization of residential buildings in the U.S.
PB - Elsevier BV PY - 2025 EP - 103908 T2 - Energy Research & Social Science TI - Decarbonizing residential buildings in the United States: A comparative analysis of households and construction professionals UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2024.103908 VL - 120 SN - 2214-6296 ER -