This systematic literature review synthesises the literature on socio-psychological drivers and barriers to heat pump adoption and efficient use in households, drawing from the 16 research articles available. The review reveals mixed findings: variables were found influential in some studies but not in others. In addition to financial considerations, negative expectations regarding comfort and performance also hinder adoption. The literature on user behaviours suggests that comfort, knowledge, and home characteristics influence how heat pumps are operated, including temperature settings, heating area, and ventilation behaviour. A key research gap is the insufficient study of variables relating to the individual, such as psychological and socio-demographic factors. Based on the findings, we recommend public awareness campaigns to emphasise non-financial benefits of heat pumps, particularly comfort, which users often experience as an advantage. To optimise user behaviour, we recommend offering technical support services, simplifying system interfaces, and providing actionable feedback information on energy consumption.

The perceived safety of tap water is an important condition for consumers to drink it. Therefore, addressing consumers’ concerns should be included in the roadmap towards the UN SDG 6 on safe drinking water for all. This paper studies consumers’ information needs regarding emerging contaminants in drinking water using a mental model approach for the development of targeted risk communication. As most consumers expect safe drinking water, free of contamination, communication on emerging contaminants may increase concerns. Here, we showed that communication strategies better tailored to consumers’ information needs result in smaller increases in risk perception compared with existing strategies.

Little attention has been devoted to the potential diversity in residents' health responses when exposed to an uncertain environmental health risk. The present study explores whether subgroups of residents respond differently to a new high-voltage power line (HVPL) being put into operation. We used a quasi-experimental prospective field study design with two pretests during the construction of a new HVPL, and two posttests after it was put into operation. Residents living nearby (0-300 m, n = 229) filled out questionnaires about their health and their perception of the environment. We applied latent class growth models to investigate heterogeneity in the belief that health complaints were caused by a power line. Classes were compared on a wide range of variables relating to negative-oriented personality traits, perceived physical and mental health, and perceptions of the environment. We identified five distinct classes of residents, of which the largest (49%) could be described as emotionally stable and healthy with weak responses to the introduction of a new power line. A considerable minority (9%) responded more strongly to the new line being activated. Residents in this class had heard more about the health effects of power lines beforehand, were more aware of the activation of the new line, and reported a decrease in perceived health afterwards. Based on our findings we can conclude that there is a considerable heterogeneity in health responses to a new HVPL. Health risk perceptions appear to play an important role in this typology, which has implications for risk management.