Solar Water Heating in Urban Housing: a Study of Factors Affecting Adoption Among Households in Nairobi
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Date
2015-10Author
Atika, Benjamin M
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Adoption of Renewable Energy Technologies in urban areas is an important mechanism in
addressing Climate Change and reducing Green House Gases (GHG).This study explores the
factors affecting adoption of Solar Water Heating (SWH) Systems by household in Nairobi
County. This study is based on The Energy (Solar Water Heating) regulations, 2012 and seeks to
explore the issues affecting their adoption. The specific objectives were to identify the
characteristics of SWH systems; to establish the level of adoption of SWH by household; and to
identify the factors that have affected adoption of SWH by households in the County of Nairobi.
The study used triangulation to guide in data collection whereby respondents to the study were
purposively sampled and drawn from households and key stakeholders from the Ministry of
Energy and Petroleum, Energy Regulation Commission, real estate developers as well as SWH
distributors as the key informant interviews. The survey data was collected in Dagoreti North,
Ruaraka and Embakasi West constituencies in Nairobi County. The research targeted a sample
size of 120, however after denial of access to some sites, the study had a final sample of 58.
The study draws the following key findings. Firstly, SWH systems are categorised into either
active or passive systems. SWH systems were also identified by a significant number of
household as being easy to use. In terms of adoption, the research established that despite a high
level of adoption of SWH by the respondents, the use of hot water was limited to use for bathing
mostly. A significant number of households also indicated that they used other water heating
systems in their households. In terms of factors affecting adoption of SWH systems the following
issues were identified lack of information and awareness; financial and economic factors;
institutional factors; technical factors; and social factors.
The study suggests the following key recommendations for policy. Firstly, it is raising awareness
to the public on the utility of SWH systems in providing hot water. This will increase that
adoption of SWH systems. Secondly, the study recommends that there is need for relevant
stakeholders to develop appropriate financial mechanisms to improve adoption among
households. The research also recommends the capacity of the Energy Regulation Commission
to be enhanced in order to effectively carry out its mandate. The organisations mandated by the
Energy (Solar Water Heating) regulations, 2012 should undertake their mandates as prescribed.
It is also recommended that an integrated building curriculum to be developed.
Additionally, the study suggests two recommendations for further research. Firstly, this study
was based on a small household sample, therefore a more expansive study can be conducted to include households, and other commercial entities such as schools, hospitals, hotels among other users. Secondly, a study on the factors affecting financing of Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) in Kenya can be conducted to identify the various issues and development of requisite policies to address them.
Publisher
University of Nairobi