Title: Greening the built environment: A review of British energy efficiency policy to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions in the services sector
Abstract: Energy efficiency policy has been on the agenda for a long time, along with the knowledge that there is a large potential for energy savings and many other multiple benefits to be gained from improving overall building efficiency. However, despite the opportunity there has been little progress in this area. In part this is because energy efficiency is complex cutting across many themes, relating to technical, financial and societal aspects. In this study the policy that influences energy consumption and carbon emissions of buildings in the services sector is evaluated. Whilst the residential sector has long received the majority of attention in the UK, the growing services sector and energy consumption in buildings such as offices, retail space and healthcare present a large opportunity for energy savings. There are however many barriers to overcome before energy savings can be realised. Split-incentives are examples of a major barrier to energy efficiency progress, one commonly discussed in the rented building sector is the ‘Landlord-Tenant dilemma’, which plays a large role in office sub-sector buildings. The UK has in recent years introduced a number of new policy measures in an attempt to overcome these barriers and enable greater energy efficiency progress. An analysis of the UK experience can provide insight for other countries. The Netherlands is facing a challenge to diversify its energy system and is looking to create new policies in order to reach energy efficiency goals for the future. Decisions for future policy making can benefit from learning about the successes and failures in UK energy efficiency policy.
Publication Year: 2019
Publication Date: 2019-01-01
Language: en
Type: review
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