Ürge-Vorsatz, D; Koeppel, S and Mirasgedis, S (2007) Appraisal of policy instruments for reducing buildings' CO2 emissions. Building Research & Information, 35(4), pp. 458-477. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
The building sector currently contributes approximately one-third of energy-related CO2 emissions worldwide. It is economically possible to achieve a 30% reduction. However, numerous barriers such as financial and behavioural issues, market failures, and misplaced incentives prevent the realization of the high economic potentials. Which policy instruments are the most appropriate and cost-effective for reducing these barriers? To address this question, 20 policy instruments were assessed for their effectiveness in reducing emissions, cost-effectiveness, applicability and special conditions for success. The appraisal is based on over 60 ex-post policy evaluation reports from about 30 countries and country groups, representing best-practice examples of the application of these instruments. Appliance standards, building codes, tax exemptions and voluntary labelling were found to be the most effective policy instruments contrary to others such as Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms or energy/carbon taxation. The most cost-effective instruments, all achieving energy savings at negative costs for society, were appliance standards, demand-side management programmes and mandatory labelling. Since all policy instruments have limitations and only help overcome some barriers, they are most effective if combined into policy packages designed for the respective location, economy and culture.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building stock; carbon reduction; climate change; economic instruments; energy efficiency; mitigation; public policy; regulation |
| Index terms: | effectiveness, mitigation, regulation, energy-saving, market failure, taxation, policy instrument, climate change, appraisal, building code, public policy, carbon reduction, society, CO2 emissions, package, demand-side management, cost-effectivenes, energy efficiency, economic instruments, programme, policy evaluation, building stock |
| Subjects: | energy systems, contractual arrangements, economic analysis, public policy, sustainability and energy, climate science, policy studies, air quality, communities and social development, regulatory law, political science, project controls, asset management, policy economics, financial risk, demand management, factor and component analysis, economics, performance management |
| Topics: | Time Control, Quality Management, Supply Chain Management, Legal Issues, Procurement, Governance, Sustainability, Regulations & Compliance, Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Cost Management, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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