Christensen, T H; Gram-Hanssen, K; De Best-Waldhober, M and Adjei, A (2014) Energy retrofits of Danish homes: Is the energy performance certificate useful? Building Research & Information, 42(4), pp. 489-500. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
Energy retrofitting of the existing dwelling stock represents one of the major challenges for the transition to a low carbon society, as about 19% of the final energy consumption in the European Union relates to heating of dwellings. Danish homeowners experiences with the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) are examined, as it was introduced in 1997 (prior to a similar scheme introduced later in the European Union). The main research question is whether the EPC has an influence on Danish homeowners energy retrofit practices. Homeowners understanding of and trust in the EPC are analyzed, based on an online survey of homeowners (N = 743) living in a home with a recently issued EPC. Results indicate that the EPC has a limited influence on homeowners energy retrofit practices. Despite most homeowners finding the EPC reliable and easy to understand, relatively few find it useful as a source of information for home retrofits. In its current form, the EPC is insufficient to encourage homeowners to undertake energy retrofits of their home. Improvements to address this problem in the administration, scope and layout of the EPC are suggested.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | energy; energy efficiency; energy performance certificate; homeowners; housing; policy measures; retrofit |
| Index terms: | survey, homeowner, housing, energy consumption, energy retrofitting, policy measure, energy efficiency, low-carbon society, energy performance certificate, European Union |
| Subjects: | physical geography and landforms, energy systems, sustainability assessment, design practice, data collection methods, policy studies, sustainability and energy, construction type, sociology |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Stakeholder Management, Design Practice, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Governance, Construction Technology |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
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