The adoption of photovoltaic panels (PV) by households is essential to meet residential Swiss energy transition targets. While previous studies have mostly focused on the factors influencing PV adoption by comparing adopters with non-adopters, few have acknowledged the heterogeneity of adopters and examined how these factors interrelate and differ among them. This study examines how factors associated with PV adoption differ among groups of adopters, and how these differences relate to socio-demographic, household and building characteristics and the geographic context. In 2022, we surveyed 1300 Swiss PV adopters. To segment the adopters, we used factor analysis and clustering methods factors associated with PV adoption. This multi-dimensional approach revealed recommendations for supporting PV adoption: (i) seize opportunity windows, such as renovations, for professionals to act as change agents, (ii) leverage attitude towards energy-conscious behaviour and perceived control over the technology, and (iii) leverage social influence for vertical diffusion.

We conducted a bottom-up, spatially explicit building stock analysis to examine the social and spatial heterogeneity of operational and embodied emissions of residential buildings in Canton Vaud, Switzerland. Variations emerged between locations, household profiles and ownership types. Urban households exhibited lower embodied emissions per resident, but higher annual operational emissions (1500–1900 kg CO₂/resident), compared to rural households, which showed greater overall variation (1200–2200 kg CO₂/resident). Ownership patterns were less geographically distinct but stratified by type: mixed-ownership buildings exhibited the highest embodied energy, largest material stock and the most modern buildings, whereas community-owned buildings showed the widest variation in annual operational emissions (1500–2300 kg CO₂/resident). Our findings suggest that tailoring emission-reduction interventions to specific social and physical housing contexts would enhance the materials-energy nexus in the built environment. We discuss avenues for reducing energy losses, closing material loops, and incorporating sufficiency into building stock management.