Number of participants
Chapter 4: Analysis and Findings Barriers to Adoption
4.2 Thematic Analysis: Barrier Themes Identified
4.2.3 Social
4.2.3.4 Lack of Interest
Generally speaking, the clients‘ will is a major determining factor in the final design; as such interest or not, in BIPV plays a huge role in the decision to adopt (Prieto et al., 2017). However, in line with other context-specific social issues already identified, there are certain differences that this barrier holds in the UAE was confirmed by fourteen participants (21%). These individuals came from six technical and eight
non-technical groups respectively and noted subtle related issues which link interest to nationality, age, knowledge, and cost.
a) Technical Participants‘ Opinions
Building on the perspective of two architects, three architects with research background, and one other consultant, the technical participants view on interest is firstly on the basis that ―clients are scared of new technology‖ (R12ARE). Another participant added that interest is sparse because BIPV is new and has a learning curve to follow; hence people tend to be reluctant (R27OCE).
But the lack of interest was also associated with the lack of financial motivation as one architect implied that the reason clients are uninterested is that they do not see its benefits. He added, quite bluntly that “Not all people have the sense of environment. You need something to motivate these people” (RO4AE), while another architect asserted that sustainable initiatives are basically motivated by some degree of interest driven by care and concern (R05AE). But more light was shed on the fact that most clients fund their housing projects using the FAB House loans, and it was argued that because priority is in other areas of the design, there is little interest if not financially motivated (RO4AE).
One architect with research background however, added to this narrative a more human aspect, highlighting a practical challenge like the change in energy use behavior to match peak PV production during the day (R15ARE).
“When you (are) using the solar energy, for example, most of your activity will be during the daytime. What are you going to do during the night? You can use batteries…there is a solution for it. But, for example, you cannot do much during the night.” – R15ARE
Suggesting that this would require sufficient interest to motivate the homeowner towards adopting BIPV. Another consultant also raised the fact that managers of firms have a lack of interest in BIPV. He added that they misconstrue BIPV continuing professional development (CPD) courses as are as “a waste of time” (R11ARE).
Although he added that this problem is more related to smaller consultancy firms, driven by financial returns, and managed by non-architects.
b) Non-Technical Participants‘ Opinions
Comments made by six participants from the Client-UAE Citizen, one Client- Expat, and one from the Policy Maker and Implementation group, presents more reasons on how and why, interest can be a barrier to BIPV adoption. To begin with, it was mentioned that about 90% of the UAE population are expatriates (Muysken & Nour, 2006) and indeed the government is actively pushing for sustainability (R49CE.).
However, two participants explained that regardless of nationality, there are some people who see a new thing and are immediately against it (R37CU); while another noted that once the mind is formed, changing it can be very difficult (R42CU).
“That's how I think the mind is formed; you don't want to change someone because change is not easy. Once it's in your mind something, it's not easy to especially with older people; it's very difficult to change.” – R42CU
But the lack of interest is not only due to this skeptical mindset. Some participants mentioned that there are other reasons. These may be a traditional design preference for large houses, lawns and gardens, and less interest in energy efficiency (R67PMI). One UAE Citizen from the client group wisely suggested that,
“Well, there are two kinds of people, the future thinking will accept it but to the now- thinking people it is not nice.” – R36CU
Interest was also linked to age, as one participant suggested that older people also need more time to understand (R39CU), and linked to ambition (R41CU). This link to ambition was made with an explanation, ―I am a new generation…My age is 28, still young but most of the people, they leave their studies from the high school to go to search for work and to build their lives” (R41CU). It was the opinion of this participant that a focus on ambition reduces interest in formal education where there is more learning about energy efficiency and new technologies like BIPV.
Still another participant linked interest with financial constraints as expressed by a technical participant. He suggested that in some cases, the cost priorities override environmental interests like BIPV in building projects.
“When people build houses, they wouldn't really care about solar stuff. They care in the sense of the environments. It is really good. They're caring also about saving money now because the budget cost to set in one house, it's going to cost a fortune.
The main thing is to save on electricity but also to save some money building this setup, this system.” – R45CU
Finally, one participant clarified why it would appear that he was not interested in BIPV or that it was not used a lot in the UAE. He said he was simply not convinced of it because, “I don‟t see reliable people really using this energy to run their entire house.‖ (R43CU).