What Combination of Policies Will Lead to a Clean Energy Future?

(University of Basel, January 06, 2025)

Researchers Dr. Mart van der Kam and Professor Ulf Hahnel from the University of Basel and the University of Geneva have published research that identifies crucial political measures needed to encourage the adoption of solar panels, electric vehicles, and heat pumps, especially among renters in Switzerland. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the researchers combined household survey data with a dynamic societal decision-making model, analyzing nearly 1,500 Swiss households. This method enabled them to test various policy measures to find the most effective strategies for promoting eco-friendly technology adoption. The study's significant implications lie in its exploration of how a blend of political measures can spur the energy revolution in Switzerland, targeting the largely untapped renter demographic, instead of depending solely on individual incentives.