10.2190/NDB8-Y4AV-AM6Q-DRPL NDB8Y4AVAM6QDRPL 4 Living with Solar Energy: Changing Attitudes and Assessments of Solar Adopters 57 70 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 NDB8Y4AVAM6QDRPL.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=NDB8Y4AVAM6QDRPL 1 Stephen W. Sawyer Robert M. Wirtshafter Department of Geography, University of Maryland Energy Management and Policy Program, University of Pennsylvania Information is provided on the experiences and current assessments of homeowners who installed active solar energy systems in the middle and late 1970s. These individuals were interviewed in the late 1970s and again in the fall of 1983. Comparison of the results of the original surveys with those in the follow-up survey provides insight in how assessments, satisfaction rates, system reliability, and related factors have varied over time. Our findings show that owner satisfaction levels remain high, estimates of the thermal contributions of the systems are only modestly below original expectations, domestic water designs and newer systems have low repair requirements and costs, and conservation rather than active solar measures are frequently recommended for potential owners. Implications for potential owners, the solar industry, and government policy are provided. U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research, <i>Final Report of the Management Support Contractor for the Residential Solar Heating Demonstration</i>, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1984. G. J. Jorgensen, <i>A Summary and Assessment of Historical Reliability and Maintainability Data for Solar Hot Water and Space Conditioning Systems</i>, Solar Energy Research Institute, Golden, CO, 1984, TR-253-2120. New England Electric System, Two Year Field Test of 100 Solar/Electric Domestic Water Heating Systems in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, New England Electric System, Westboro, MA, 1979, (Mimeographed Report). S. W. Sawyer, <i>Residential Solar Energy Use: A Comparative Assessment by Solar Consumers and the Solar Research Community</i>, Graduate School of Geography, Clark University, Worcester, MA, 1980. S. W. Sawyer, <i>Solar Water Heating in Maryland: A Study of Current Consumers</i>, Maryland Energy Office, Baltimore, MD, 1980. E. M. Rogers and F. F. Shoemaker, <i>Diffusion of Innovations</i>, Free Press, New York, 1971. B. Farhar-Pilgram and C. T. Unseld, <i>America's Solar Potential: A National Consumer Study</i>, Praeger, New York, 1982. M. M. Yarosh and L. T. Connor, Consumer Experience: Implications for Government Solar Policy, <i>Proceedings of the 1980 Annual Meeting</i>, American Section of the International Solar Energy Society, Boulder, Colorado, 1980.