The project aims to illustrate individual decision processes and relevant actor relationships in an energy system model for buildings. The intention is to improve the forecasting power of scenarios for the diffusion of energy efficiency measures and renewable heat supply systems in existing buildings and new builds in Germany by considering aspects of technology acceptance. The basis for the energy system modelling is the bottom-up simulation model INVERT/EE-Lab with the agent-based investment decision module INVERT-Agents.

In line with the interdisciplinary project approach, the work is split into two coordinating packages (WP1 and 6), three WPs with a socio-psychological focus (WP2-4) and a modelling WP (WP5). WP1 covers general project coordination, while WP6 deals with the interdisciplinary exchange concerning methodology. These two WPs act as the bookends for the project. WP2-4 constitute the project’s scientific hub. WP2 studies the decision behaviour of residential building owners; WP3 the decision behaviour of non-residential building owners; and WP4 examines the influence and bidding behaviour of intermediaries. Based on qualitative and quantitative surveys (interviews, questionnaires, stated choice), these three WPs provide the input to WP5, which models the development of buildings’ heat demand.