Residential Renewable Energy Adoption & Attitudes Survey

Thanks for taking a few minutes to share your thoughts on renewable energy! Your responses are completely confidential and anonymized. There are no right or wrong answers — we're just trying to understand what matters to households like yours. This should take about 5-6 minutes.

Which best describes your current use of renewable energy at home?

• I have solar panels or another on-site renewable system installed
• I'm enrolled in a community solar or green energy plan through my utility
• I use standard grid power and am actively considering a renewable option
• I use standard grid power and have not looked into renewable options
• Not sure what my current energy mix includes

How important is each of the following when you think about your household's energy choices?

Thinking about switching to or expanding renewable energy at home, which of these is the biggest obstacle for you, and which matters least?

• Upfront cost of equipment or installation
• Hassle or disruption of installation
• Aesthetics of panels or equipment, or HOA/landlord restrictions
• Uncertainty about whether my property is suitable (roof, sun exposure, etc.)
• Uncertainty about how much I'd actually save
• Lack of clear, trustworthy information
• Limited or confusing financing options
• Distrust of installers, providers, or sales pitches

How informed do you feel about the renewable energy options available to your household?

Thinking about a 100% renewable energy plan offered by your electric utility, as an extra monthly amount on top of your current bill:

• At what extra monthly amount would this plan seem so cheap that you'd question the electricity is really renewable?
• At what extra monthly amount would this plan seem like a bargain — a great deal for the money?
• At what extra monthly amount would this plan start to seem expensive, so that you'd have to think about it?
• At what extra monthly amount would this plan be so expensive that you would never consider it?

You have 100 points to distribute across the reasons you would choose renewable energy. Give more points to what matters more to you.

• Saving money over time
• Reducing environmental impact
• Energy independence or resilience during outages
• Rebates, tax credits, or incentives
• Keeping up with what neighbors or peers are doing

How likely are you to adopt or expand your use of renewable energy in the next 12 months?

Dig into the single biggest obstacle the respondent identified in the trade-off exercise (or, if they said they'd never consider a renewable plan, their price ceiling reasoning). Ask what specifically triggered that concern, whether they've looked into solutions or gotten quotes, and what — concretely — would need to change (price, proof, a specific incentive, information source) for them to move forward in the next year. If they're already using renewable energy, redirect to what almost stopped them and what they'd tell a neighbor who's on the fence.

Just a few quick background questions — all optional — to help us understand different household needs.

Which best describes your housing situation?

• Own my home
• Rent my home
• Live in a multi-unit building I don't control
• Other
• Prefer not to say

What is your age range?

• 18-24
• 25-34
• 35-44
• 45-54
• 55-64
• 65 or older
• Prefer not to say

What is your approximate household income?

• Under $40,000
• $40,000-$79,999
• $80,000-$119,999
• $120,000-$179,999
• $180,000 or more
• Prefer not to say

Thank you for sharing your perspective! Your answers will help shape clearer information, fairer pricing, and better support for households considering renewable energy.