To use solar energy efficiently, reduce emissions and net congestion problems, prosumer households should substitute grid-consumed energy with self-consumption. Loadshifting is a low-cost measure to increase self-consumption, shifting energy-intensive behaviors (such as running the laundry machine) to periods of time when energy is produced. Research on the behavioral foundation of loadshifting is scarce. At a time of growing PV integration, leading to a debate on balancing responsibility and the dismantling of the Dutch net-metering scheme, the Netherlands makes for an interesting case to study this issue. This study aims to assess the barriers limiting Dutch prosumer households from loadshifting the use of their laundry machine to a time when their solar PV system is producing energy.

Literature shows that loadshifting not only depends on the individual, but also on the material and institutional context. Therefore, combining the individual-focused theory of planned behavior and context-focused social practice theory is useful to study barriers to loadshifting. The newly constructed model consists of 10 measurable constructs possibly underlying barriers to loadshifting. The included constructs are sufficiency attitude, motivation, user beliefs, know-how, monitoring skills, habits, hassle, practical knowledge provided, institutional policies and regulations, and feedback provision by system design. To test this model a mixed-methods approach is taken. Qualitative data is obtained through six semi-structured interviews with solar energy experts and is analyzed through thematic content analysis using ATLAS.ti. The quantitative data encompasses 283 survey responses from Dutch prosumers, analyzed mainly through a multiple regression analysis in SPSS.

Qualitative findings largely verify the model. According to experts, a low sufficiency attitude, passive user beliefs, limited practical knowledge, strong habits, hassle, limited know-how, low monitoring skills, financial motivation and low feedback provision are all relevant barriers to loadshifting behavior. Barriers found in addition to the predefined model include high age, panel orientation, a lack of clear policy, safety concerns, outdated machinery, and low interpretability of energy bills. On the other hand, only low monitoring skills, strong habits, limited practical knowledge, and passive user beliefs significantly limit loadshifting behavior in the quantitative analyses.

Findings highlight the need for cooperation amongst the energy sector, home appliance producers, policymakers, consultants, researchers, and prosumers. Furthermore, technology should support human behavior, rather than expecting behavior to adjust to technology. For example, technical measures that do not require dramatic habitual change can easily support loadshifting, such as panel orientation. If the encouragement of habitual change is desired, dismantling the Dutch net-metering scheme in combination with providing a monetary self-consumption bonus is recommended. Moreover, prosumer knowledge on self-consumption and prosumers’ monitoring skills should be increased.

Strengths of this study include its mixed-methods approach, the large quantitative sample size and the novel combination of two theories. However, not all relevant barriers could be considered, and policymakers were not interviewed directly. Lastly, most constructs were quantitatively measured using two questions only. Future research is needed mainly to assess potential interaction effects between habits, hassle, and know-how. Additionally, other barriers can be assessed, such as the effects of motivation or values on loadshifting.

The societal need for sustainability transformation is crucial in light of climate change, and the role of individual action and behavioural changes is considered critical in meeting the Paris agreement. Radical shifts in social norms are required, which could be achieved through reaching social tipping points. These tipping points could be reached earlier by focusing on ‘greening’ communities rather than individuals. Any type of social change however, needs initiation in one way or another. Knowing what makes people advocate for pro-environmental behaviour within their community or communities, could help initiate the needed sustainability transformation. A knowledge gap was found as the literature only partly covered this topic. Sports clubs in the Netherlands are popular and relevant community settings that are increasingly stimulated towards more sustainable practices, therefore this was the setting that was focused on in the study. An exploratory approach was taken to pinpointing which helping or facilitating conditions in sports clubs are experienced by individuals who make efforts in the sustainability transformation at their club. To do this, a conceptual model was created, taking a multi-level approach and combining the capability-opportunity-motivation-behaviour (COM-B) model with environmental citizenship. A total of 17 participants who considered themselves an initiative taker or achiever for sustainability at their sports club were consulted through semi-structured interviews. Elements of grounded theory were used to shape the analysis of the acquired data. The interview transcripts were coded and analysed using the COM-components of the conceptual model. The analysis shows that there is a multitude of factors that stimulate partaking in sustainability transformation at sports clubs, with community feel or communication, and (resulting) availability of skills and knowledge standing out. Limitations of the study included taking a rather broad approach, advising future studies to further deepening more self-contained dimensions. Recommendations for supporting organisations, policy makers and sports club members with environmental concerns, included communicating about concerns and providing support regarding sustainability transformations, among others.