Renewable heating systems (RHS), such as solar thermal, geothermal, heat pumps, wood pellets, biomass, are essential to reduce dependence on fossil fuel-based heating systems and resulting CO₂ emissions. Despite their benefits in terms of CO₂ emissions, the widespread adoption of RHS has yet to be achieved. This paper aims to get insights into the intention to adopt RHS in the Netherlands For this purpose, it designs and conducts a survey based on the extended version of the theory of planned behavior, with five components: attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, personal norms, and descriptive norms. The survey also includes questions on participation in a thermal energy community. The results show that several factors affect individuals’ intention to adopt RHS. Many individuals in the Netherlands have a positive attitude toward adopting RHS, which is primarily caused by environmental concerns and wanting energy independence for their country. However, the majority of individuals think that they do not have the knowledge, financial means, or time to adopt RHS. Also, individuals who feel strong moral values and responsibilities are more likely to adopt RHS. Most individuals are willing to participate in a thermal energy community, and prefer participating in an energy community over adopting RHS individually. Based on these insights, a number of recommendations are made to stimulate the adoption of RHS in the Netherlands, such as taking into account moral norms, introducing policies to incentivize thermal energy communities, and addressing issues of injustice.

The European energy system is undergoing a drastic change, focusing on reducing natural gas consumption and import. European households, which are responsible for 25 % of final energy consumption, mainly based on natural gas, could play a significant role in such a transition. Therefore, the study aims to understand the perception towards natural gas consumption reduction and imports. An online questionnaire was designed based on an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour, which 257 highly educated respondents filled out. The results delineated the respondents' positive perception of reducing natural gas consumption. Specific attributes (i.e., environmental concerns, national sustainable and efficient energy system, and national energy independence) and personal moral norms (i.e., moral responsibility) significantly impact the willingness and effort to reduce natural gas consumption. The lack of control is the largest perceived control behaviour in reducing the respondents' natural gas consumption compared to available knowledge and affordability. Finally, the respondents care significantly and want to know about natural gas import sources, and they are highly against natural gas imports from Russia, the United States, the Middle Eastern, and Arab countries. Based on the insights, the study provides detailed recommendations. The study provides concrete recommendations for policy-makers to include environmental, humanitarian and energy-independence concerns in their decision-making processes related to natural gas imports and consumption. It also emphasises informing and involving individual households in such decision-making processes.