Will U.S. Homeowners Adopt Eco-Toilets?
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 6
Abstract
On Cape Cod, eco-toilets could help mitigate an existing pollution problem, but observed adoption rates have been extremely low. A household survey was used to examine primarily nonmonetary factors affecting homeowners’ willingness to adopt eco-toilets. This study is the first of its kind, surveying potential buyers and users of in-home eco-toilets in the United States who must manage an urgent sewage-driven pollution problem. Although the respondents were highly educated, the pollution problem and possible solutions were not well understood by all participants. At the same time, willingness to use eco-toilets in various settings (46% “completely willing” to stay at a hotel with eco-toilets) and even install them in the home (34% neutral, 22% “completely willing”) was considerably higher than expected based on the low adoption rate to date. Perceptions of positive and negative consequences of installing eco-toilets were of particular importance. The results suggest that education efforts would improve the public’s understanding of eco-toilets, and along with monetary and nonmonetary incentives, would likely increase adoption rates.
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Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the USEPA National Network for Environmental Management Studies Fellowship Program (Grant U-91755801-0) for funding the lead author; Jay Garland, Jennifer Cashdollar, and Cissy Ma of the USEPA were particularly helpful. Marc Musick aided data analysis and interpretation. Ana Cordova, Kasey Faust, Barton Kirk, Kate Mulvaney, and Xiaobo Xue gave input in developing the questionnaire. Numerous individuals also provided information relevant to Cape Cod.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 6 • June 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 29, 2016
Accepted: Nov 8, 2016
Published ahead of print: Feb 20, 2017
Published online: Feb 21, 2017
Published in print: Jun 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Jul 21, 2017
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