Policy instruments for energy-efficient renovations at district level

Abstract

IEA EBC Annex 75 aims to investigate, amongst other policy for reducing carbon emissions and energy use in buildings at district level, combining both energy efficiency measures and renewable energy measures. Particularly policy instruments deployed at the local level targeting owners and investors could increase residential building renovation and renewable energy systems to a district scale. A desk and empirical research using 38 expert interviews from 8 European countries was used to investigate the use and development of various types of policy instruments, including regulations, incentives, communication and facilitating instruments. The research confirms interest of frontrunners to use or develop specific policy instruments further, such as enforcement of energy standards and inspections, financial incentives for district stakeholders and for groups of homeowners, renovation services and energy desks, digital communication and network meetings in districts. It also finds that low relative advantage for some stakeholders, lack of good examples, an incompatible legal or national framework and high complexity are serious risks that can further hinder adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy systems in districts. Renovations at district scale including energy efficiency and renewable energy can benefit from adapted or improved regulations, incentives, communication and facilitation to better support renovations at district scale including energy efficiency and renewable energy systems.