In recent times, the sun is a shining star, helping humans with reduced electricity bills, consumption of sustainable power, and a low-carbon society. Although the significance of adopting solar energy is understood by many people, there is a need of giving an increased push to renewable and clean solar power adoption.
The Indian government is launching different campaigns to create solar awareness still people are afraid of making solar investments. They don’t always act on changing their behavior to switch to renewable solar energy. Deciding on solar system installation is different than deciding to turn off a tap or a light. This blog post will highlight some scientifically-proven strategies that will help in nudging the adoption of cost-effective solar energy.
Loss aversion
Investing in rooftop solar panels for home can be a challenging issue for households, although it is a safe investment that makes sense financially. When asked homeowners mostly show their interest in installing solar technologies like solar PV panels, but they don’t act upon it seriously due to administrative pressure. Decreasing this burden may result in the adoption of PV but this also includes modifications at the policy level.
Loss aversion may be an effective method that can be implemented without changing any policies. Calling on loss aversion is somewhat similar to self-interest. It is believed that we as humans react more strongly and emotionally to losses than profits. People must be informed by the certain quantity of power they have missed generating in the previous years, creating a reference point. Losing some amount of power and money will make people consider it a loss instead of a possible gain.
Community leadership
Researchers have reported that community leaders who had already installed solar systems in their residential properties were able to influence so many residents to adopt solar energy than leaders who don’t have solar systems installed in their homes. According to these studies, it is believed that actions speak much louder than words. Homeowners having solar-equipped homes are setting up an example that solar power adoption is beneficial. Such community leaders can result in the shift by enhancing solar credibility.
Social norms
According to human behavior study reports, humans are highly influenced by what others are doing in their life. In relation to residential solar panels, the nature of one’s neighbor who has had a solar system on their residential rooftop can influence the decision of another person in going solar through social interactions within the community. Transparency must be created about the total number of neighbors who have already installed solar panels and reasons to go solar, creating excitement to do the same.
Signaling theory
There is a huge impact of households that use electricity more efficiently. These homeowners notice a small dip in the power usage following receipt of a document of community power expenditure for each household. This acts to confirm the adoption of signaling theory in the form of behavioral strategy.
Signaling refers to the ability to follow a behavior because of what it reflects about us. We all want to be role models and at a high rank compared to our peers. Focusing on model behavior is the best strategy because efficiency is a highly preferred quality.
Defaults
This is another scientifically-proven strategy to nudge solar power adoption in India and throughout the world. It is the choice a user gets when they don’t openly insist on otherwise. In simpler terms, defaults alter the first choice sets to allow consumers not to opt-in to a decision but rather should opt-out of the option offered to them.
This powerful policy adoption strategy has drastically improved participation in retirement financial planning and organ donation. This strategy has also proven effective in the adoption of solar power in households by setting solar-enabled homes the norm. In one of the experiments, half of the participants were provided contracts wherein they had to go with green energy solutions. However, the remaining half were provided contracts in which green energy systems were already chosen.
Creating a norm or default that housing contracts will be powered by clean and renewable sources of energy, rather than option the consumers had to select from, the researchers rise solar panel installation by a significant percentage. This means a small and simple change in the manner an option is provided can change the approach of decision-making.
Discount the future
The main thing that is disallowing people from going solar is that advantages are added over a long period of time. However, the costs related to them are instant and large in some cases. Thus, to make energy-efficient improvements via sustainable solar energy, discounting the future is significant.
Generally, people consider a smaller reward at present over a huge reward in the coming time. Thus, providing immediate rewards in the form of prizes, discounts, offers, and vouchers to people provide a great solution to this irrational tendency. It is much better than long-term paybacks for improving future value.
ROI
Return on investment or ROI in short is what every person wants. This term is much better understood by the solar rooftop sector than by the end users. Thus, there is a need to put in more effort to provide an ROI for safe and secure solar investment.
According to results of the recent research, people consider solar power as an advanced technology that provides environmental benefits, decreases long-term expenses, and shows the high status of a consumer. To enhance solar power adoption and usage, messages in an integrated framework must be customized, expressing ROI as a blend of these three important aspects.
By adopting these easy-to-implement strategies, one can maximize the impact on enhanced awareness of the huge significance of solar power. If you understand the importance of going solar with solar system for residential flats or commercial buildings, you may contact experts at Megamax Solar, providing an assorted range of solar systems with after-sales services and full customer support.