Smart Homes as Catalysts for Sustainable Consumption: A Digital Economy Perspective

The green living issues that arise as a result of smart home use in the context of sustainability consumption, at a time when smart homes are being built that can improve the management of electricity, water, gas consumption, and when their use offers the opportunity to raise awareness of caring for health and achieving wellbeing, became the basis for writing this article. This paper explores the intersection of smart home technologies, sustainable consumption, and the digital economy, offering insights into how digital advancements can foster environmentally responsible consumer behaviors. The motivation behind this study is the growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable solutions in consumer behavior. Despite the advancements in smart home technologies, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding their role in promoting sustainable consumption. The research employs an extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) model, integrating factors such as convenience, health and wellbeing, and environmental impact to assess the determinants influencing the adoption of smart home technologies. This study follows a comprehensive research process involving a survey of 795 individuals and the use of structural equation modeling (SmartPLS 4). The empirical findings reveal that factors such as performance expectancy and personal innovativeness are critical in shaping the adoption of smart home technologies. Additionally, this study highlights the significant positive influence of smart homes on sustainable consumption behaviors, underscoring their potential in driving the digital economy towards sustainability goals. The significance of these findings lies in their contribution to the understanding of how digital technologies, particularly smart homes, can enhance sustainable consumption, offering implications for policymakers, developers, and stakeholders in the digital economy seeking to promote sustainability through technological innovations.