Solar Water Heating in Urban Housing: a Study of Factors Affecting Adoption Among Households in Nairobi

Abstract

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.