Downsizing and the use of timber as embodied carbon reduction strategies for new-build housing: A partial life cycle assessment

The 2050 decarbonization goals coupled with the growing housing shortage in Europe intensify the pressure on new-build dwellings to enhance their energy performance. Beyond a zero operational energy, the focus has shifted towards reducing embodied carbon (EC). Against this backdrop, this study investigates the simultaneous impact of downsizing...

Land-policy instruments for densification: the Dutch quest for control

Land-policy instruments are important to local governments for the implementation of densification. This article explores the factors behind local governments’ motives that determine the use of specific land-policy instruments to achieve densification. The aim is to increase understanding of how available land-policy instruments are applied in...

Unravelling Dutch homeowners’ behaviour towards energy efficiency renovations: What drives and hinders their decision-making?

The housing stock has a considerable share of 40% in energy consumption and 36% of CO ₂ emissions in the EU. In accordance to energy efficiency and emissions targets set by EU, The Netherlands has aimed to renovate 300,000 homes each year, leading to 50% reduction in CO ₂ emissions, by 2050. Many factors including low...

Reducing the Performance Gap by Analysing Specific Combiantions of Occupant and Building Characteristics

The energy saving policies of governments are not resulting in the energy saving they were aiming for[1]. Theoretical energy saving predictions are an important and frequently used tool for policy makers to develop energy saving policies and to set energy saving targets. Majcen et al. [2] showed a discrepancy between actual and theoretical...