Sunikka, M and Boon, C (2003) Environmental policies and efforts in social housing: The Netherlands. Building Research & Information, 31(1), pp. 1-12. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
Although progressive government guidelines and awareness of sustainable issues exists, progress in sustainable management in the social housing sector has been slow. A market research survey and analysis of the sustainable housing management by Dutch housing associations indicates the areas and organizations where policies, instruments and practices are focussed or lacking. Longitudinal trends are established using further surveys from 1993, 1998 and 2000 as well as comparing national strategies from five European Union countries (the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, France and Finland). Results indicate that efforts in sustainable management are misplaced with emphasis on procuring new buildings, not on operation and maintenance. Several barriers at the policy and strategy level are identified, especially the perceived costs of implementing environmental management, the lack of market demand and the poor capture of benefits. Special recommendations for government, housing associations and occupants are based on the findings - widening the focus of issues on sustainability, emphasizing the existing building stock, increasing the use of voluntary agreements, recognizing different capabilities in scale of housing associations and creating market demand.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building stock; environmental policy; housing associations; management; social housing; sustainable built environment; the Netherlands |
| Index terms: | survey, European Union, Netherlands, building stock, strategy, Finland, sustainable management, operation and maintenance, France, market research, housing association, agreements, environmental management, sustainable housing, social housing, environmental policy, Germany, built environment |
| Subjects: | asset management, housing and residential development, market analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, maintenance engineering, sustainability assessment, management, physical geography and landforms, health safety and environment, Geography, public policy, institutional client, contract formation, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Urban Studies, Contract Administration, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Governance |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
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