Policy Inducement Effects in Energy Efficiency Technologies. An Empirical Analysis of the Residential Sector - Green Energy and Efficiency: An Economic Perspective - page 203

Fig. 4 Trends in EE patents at EPO in the three sub-domains (1990 - 2010). Source own work
based on EPO [ 19 ]

worth noting that patents for highly ef cient appliances are not affected by the

general downturn in patenting activity in 2005: they maintained constant growth
over the entire period analysed. In terms of sectoral contributions, patents for
buildings account for the most EE technologies, followed by lighting and electrical
appliances, both of which make moderate contributions to the total number of EE
patents led. Adding up all the patents in the entire period, buildings account for

73 % (33,973 applications), lighting for 21 % (11,699 applications) and electrical
appliances for 17 % (9,619 applications).

3 Innovation Drivers in Residential EE Technologies:
The Empirical Framework

A large body of literature has sought to identify the main forces pushing and
supporting eco-innovation, using both theoretical and empirical models. Such
analyses suggest that a systemic approach is an appropriate way to study the
determinants of introduction and the patterns of dissemination of eco-innovation
[ 17 , 30 , 73 ], as it sheds light on the relevance of both demand-pull and supply-push
forces and on the primary role played by public policies in this context [ 31 , 55 , 69 ].
From a general point of view, Coenen and D í az L ó pez [ 12 ] clearly emphasise that a
systemic approach is necessary in eco-innovation studies whatever theoretical
framework is adopted. Regardless of whether technological innovation systems,
socio-technical systems or sectoral systems of innovation make up the analytical
setting of the analysis, private efforts in innovation, technological and institutional
capabilities and different public support policies should be accounted for in an
integrated manner.
Building on this comprehensive approach, the empirical analysis proposed seeks
to take into account the different forces that shape the rate and direction of
eco-innovation in the sector considered. In particular the dependent variable,