A recent study suggests homeowners with children are demonstrating a heightened willingness to embrace innovative energy solutions. The research, conducted by Statista on behalf of Eon Energie Deutschland, reveals a distinct trend in the adoption of renewable energy technologies and energy-efficient practices among families.
The survey, reported by publications within the Funke-Mediengruppe, indicates that parents are actively pursuing the energy transition within their own homes, often at a notably higher rate than homeowners without children. Specifically, 37% of households with children have already installed photovoltaic (PV) systems, exceeding the percentage of childless homeowners by five percentage points (32%). This pattern is even more pronounced with heat pumps, where households with children report installation at a rate of 23%, compared to 14% among those without children. The adoption of electric vehicles also follows a similar trend, with 22% of families owning EVs compared to 12% of those without children.
While the rate of battery storage adoption appears comparable between families with and without children (58% for families, 61% for those without), a substantial 29% of childless homeowners are considering retrofitting their homes with storage, marginally above the 22% planning the upgrade within families. Philipp Klenner, responsible for energy transition technologies at Eon, commented on the findings, noting that families are demonstrating a clear commitment to climate protection.
Looking towards future investments, the study highlights a marked difference in homeowner intentions. Thirty percent of families are planning to install a PV system by the end of 2026 if they haven’t already, a twelve percentage point advantage over homeowners without children. Similarly, 19% of parents intend to purchase an electric vehicle within the next 18 months, compared to 11% of childless homeowners. The proportion of families considering switching to heat pumps is also significantly higher, at 16% compared to 8% among those without children.
Furthermore, survey data reveals increased openness to energy management systems and flexible electricity tariffs within families. Eighteen percent of households with children already utilize an energy management system, surpassing the 15% rate observed in the comparison group. A further 15% of families are actively planning an energy management system purchase within the next 18 months, whilst childless households show a less enthusiastic 8%. Finally, a notably higher proportion of families (12%) are planning to switch to flexible electricity tariffs by the end of 2026, or are open to the possibility (55%), compared to childless households (5% and 46% respectively).
