Policies for Improving Energy Efficiency in the European Housing Stock - Volume 09 Sustainable Urban Areas

According to EC forecasts, if energy efficiency could be increased 1% annually until 2010, two-thirds of the potential energy saving in the EU could be achieved. This would comply with 40% of the EU's Kyoto obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% on the 1990 level by 2010-12, by cutting 200 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. Improving energy efficiency in existing buildings is often considered to be one of the most cost-effective ways of cutting carbon emissions. Current policy measures, however, seem to be decided with little reference to the specific needs of renovation in the housing sector instead of basing policy measures on detailed sets of requirements and actual costs. The research provides information for national governments in the EU on how to improve their sustainable building policies so as to increase carbon reductions in the existing housing stock. It addresses the question of the extent to which stronger government intervention is possible and necessary for circumnavigating barriers and the policy approaches that are likely to be feasible, effective cost-efficient and legitimate.IOS Press is an international science, technical and medical publisher of high-quality books for academics, scientists, and professionals in all fields. Some of the areas we publish in: -Biomedicine -Oncology -Artificial intelligence -Databases and information systems -Maritime engineering -Nanotechnology -Geoengineering -All aspects of physics -E-governance -E-commerce -The knowledge economy -Urban studies -Arms control -Understanding and responding to terrorism -Medical informatics -Computer Sciences Policies for improving energy efficiency in the European housing stock......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 12 1.1 Energy as an environmental and economic problem......Page 14 1.2 Energy efficiency in buildings......Page 15 1.3 Policy as a societal response......Page 17 1.5 Problem definition......Page 19 1.6 Research questions......Page 20 1.7 Research method......Page 21 1.8 Limitations......Page 26 1.9 Research environment......Page 29 1.10 Organisation of the thesis......Page 30 References......Page 32 2 Policies and regulations for sustainable building: a comparative study of five European countries......Page 42 Abstract......Page 43 2.1 Introduction......Page 44 2.2 The nature of renovation in the residential sector......Page 47 2.3 Government policies on sustainable building......Page 51 2.4 Building regulations......Page 61 2.5 European Union policy......Page 67 2.6 Conclusions......Page 70 References......Page 74 3 Fiscal instruments in sustainable housing policies in the EU and the accession countries......Page 84 Abstract......Page 85 3.1 Introduction......Page 86 3.2 Environmental taxes for sustainable housing......Page 88 3.3 Incentives for sustainable housing......Page 91 3.4 Policy developments......Page 94 3.5 The role of the European Union......Page 95 3.6 Conclusions......Page 97 References......Page 100 4 Environmental policies and efforts in social housing: the Netherlands......Page 104 Abstract......Page 105 4.2 Background......Page 106 4.3 Methodology......Page 109 4.4 Sustainable management in the Netherlands......Page 110 4.5 Conclusions......Page 117 4.6 Recommendations......Page 119 References......Page 122 5 Energy efficiency and low carbon technologies in urban renewal......Page 126 Abstract......Page 127 5.1 Introduction......Page 128 5.2 Research method......Page 129 5.3 Case study 1: Energy efficiency improvements in the renovation of post-war housing......Page 131 5.4 Case study 2: Energy supply using low carbon technologies in urban renewal......Page 135 5.5 Policy recommendations......Page 140 5.6 Conclusions......Page 143 References......Page 145 6 The energy certificate system under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD): improving the energy efficiency of the existing housing stock......Page 152 Abstract......Page 153 6.1 Introduction......Page 154 6.2 Research method......Page 155 6.3 Qualitative study......Page 157 6.4 Quantitative analysis: the UK......Page 158 6.5 Maximising the impact of the energy certificate......Page 166 6.6 Conclusions......Page 171 References......Page 173 7.1 Introduction......Page 178 7.2 Policies and implementation......Page 181 7.3 Response......Page 188 7.4 Response strategies......Page 196 7.5 Conclusions......Page 205 References......Page 210 Summary......Page 218 Samenvatting......Page 228 References......Page 238 Curriculum vitae......Page 260

according To Ec Forecasts, If Energy Efficiency Could Be Increased 1% Annually Until 2010, Two-thirds Of The Potential Energy Saving In The Eu Could Be Achieved. This Would Comply With 40% Of The Eu's Kyoto Obligation To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 8% On The 1990 Level By 2010-12, By Cutting 200 Million Tonnes Of Co2 Emissions Per Year. Improving Energy Efficiency In Existing Buildings Is Often Considered To Be One Of The Most Cost-effective Ways Of Cutting Carbon Emissions. Current Policy Measures, However, Seem To Be Decided With Little Reference To The Specific Needs Of Renovation In The Housing Sector Instead Of Basing Policy Measures On Detailed Sets Of Requirements And Actual Costs. The Research Provides Information For National Governments In The Eu On How To Improve Their Sustainable Building Policies So As To Increase Carbon Reductions In The Existing Housing Stock. It Addresses The Question Of The Extent To Which Stronger Government Intervention Is Possible And Necessary For Circumnavigating Barriers And The Policy Approaches That Are Likely To Be Feasible, Effective Cost-efficient And Legitimate.

According to EC forecasts, if energy efficiency could be increased 1 per cent annually until 2010, two-thirds of the potential energy saving in the EU could be achieved. The research provides information for national governments in the EU on how to improve their building policies so as to increase carbon reductions in the existing housing stock.