Barriers and drivers for energy efficient renovation at district level
(2023)- Abstract
- This report aims to identify both barriers that hinder energy-efficient renovation of buildings and drivers enabling the implementation of energy and cost-effective renovation of buildings and energy supply systems at the district level.
Fifteen success stories regarding barriers and drivers were analysed in the first step. These success stories consisted of projects from seven European countries (Austria, Denmark, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) where energy-efficient and/or renewable energy measures had been successfully implemented at the district level.
In the next step, different stakeholders involved in energy renovations at the district level were interviewed about their experiences to identify barriers and... (More) - This report aims to identify both barriers that hinder energy-efficient renovation of buildings and drivers enabling the implementation of energy and cost-effective renovation of buildings and energy supply systems at the district level.
Fifteen success stories regarding barriers and drivers were analysed in the first step. These success stories consisted of projects from seven European countries (Austria, Denmark, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) where energy-efficient and/or renewable energy measures had been successfully implemented at the district level.
In the next step, different stakeholders involved in energy renovations at the district level were interviewed about their experiences to identify barriers and drivers. In total, 39 in-depth interviews from eight countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) were carried out. The stakeholders included policymakers, renovation solution suppliers, energy solution suppliers, clients and beneficiaries, financing intermediaries and other intermediaries. The barriers and drivers were divided into the following categories: policy, legal aspects, economic aspects, social aspects, communication, technical aspects, and knowledge and training.
Identified barriers at the policy level include lack of synchronization between national and local governments, lack of financial and human resources, lack of ambition of municipalities, and difficulty in dealing with home-owner associations and heterogenous districts with significant variations in the standard and age of the buildings. Legal barriers include obligations to comply with building construction norms also for other aspects than those related to energy when buildings are renovated or regulations protecting the cultural heritage. Economic barriers include lack of funding, market distortions, lack of financial incentives, complex rules to achieve funding for renovation work, and the resistance of private homeowners to take loans. Social barriers include difficulty in renovating areas with vulnerable low-income people and a lack of trust by citizens towards other energy renovation actors. Barriers related to communication include lack of advice, poor dialogue between stakeholders, lack of contact between building owners and energy professionals, and lack of coordination between institutions. Technical barriers include the lack of innovative technological solutions and the low energy performance of buildings, which makes it difficult to use efficient low-temperature district heating grids. Other identified barriers are the lack of knowledge and training of various energy actors.
Drivers found at the policy level indicate that municipalities have an essential role in leading by example and being a central actor in reaching many stakeholders. Municipalities can also provide different types of economic support, e.g., using available funds to provide different types of subsidies, giving bank guarantees and offering low-interest loans to their municipal housing associations. Furthermore, they may stimulate building renovation by coordinating entire district renovation processes also among private building owners. Regarding legal aspects, ambitious requirements on energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy-based heating systems can be important drivers. Such regulations may also be combined, and they are best accepted, and therefore most effective, when something is given in return for compliance with far-reaching standards.
Identified economic drivers include revolving loan funds as well as economic incentives to encourage a shift to non-fossil fuels. Many economic drivers are related to economies of scale, e.g., district heating projects may be economically advantageous compared to individual heating solutions. To promote a combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, an important driver is to determine subsidies based on gross floor area instead of the capacity of heating systems. Another driver is to focus on life cycle costs instead of investment costs. Drivers related to social aspects include citizen involvement and user participation to raise the acceptance for the energy renovation, to encourage initiatives from citizens and individual building owners for building renovation projects at the district level, improving the outdoor environment and attractiveness of the district being renovated as well as ensuring the continuity of families and the social cohesion in the district. Drivers related to communication include advice and guidance to actors involved in energy renovation of buildings at the district level during the whole renovation process, organizing networking meetings among building owners, communicating and spreading information about good practise and pilot areas, good communication between the different stakeholders involved in the project as well as map-based information informing citizens on available energy options. Technical drivers include standardisation and prefab solutions and, thereby, faster and more cost-effective construction, especially if the buildings to be renovated are of a similar type. The possibility to access a large energy source or the possibility to apply advanced efficient technologies can also be a driver for building renovation at the district level. Drivers related to knowledge and training include increased knowledge and experience among stakeholders involved in different parts of the renovation project, particularly energy professionals from both the private and the public sectors.
It is concluded that local authorities are key actors. To facilitate renovation at the district level, they could act as moderators and central actors to reach many stakeholders and foster a positive attitude towards energy renovation. Similarly, housing associations can play an important role in energy renovation at the district level, acting as drivers of the renovation process and implementing a holistic renovation vision. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/a937043e-8931-4573-b9eb-08a1fb64a9e2
- author
- Johansson, Erik LU and Davidsson, Henrik LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023-05-01
- type
- Book/Report
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Energy efficiency, Urban districts, Renewable energy, Barriers, Drivers, Building renovation, Europe
- pages
- 101 pages
- publisher
- International Energy Agency
- ISBN
- 978-989-35039-5-9
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- a937043e-8931-4573-b9eb-08a1fb64a9e2
- alternative location
- https://annex75.iea-ebc.org/Data/publications/Annex75_C3%20Report_BarriersDrivers_19_June_2023.pdf
- date added to LUP
- 2023-10-24 08:07:37
- date last changed
- 2023-10-24 14:38:43
@techreport{a937043e-8931-4573-b9eb-08a1fb64a9e2,
abstract = {{This report aims to identify both barriers that hinder energy-efficient renovation of buildings and drivers enabling the implementation of energy and cost-effective renovation of buildings and energy supply systems at the district level.<br/>Fifteen success stories regarding barriers and drivers were analysed in the first step. These success stories consisted of projects from seven European countries (Austria, Denmark, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) where energy-efficient and/or renewable energy measures had been successfully implemented at the district level.<br/>In the next step, different stakeholders involved in energy renovations at the district level were interviewed about their experiences to identify barriers and drivers. In total, 39 in-depth interviews from eight countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) were carried out. The stakeholders included policymakers, renovation solution suppliers, energy solution suppliers, clients and beneficiaries, financing intermediaries and other intermediaries. The barriers and drivers were divided into the following categories: policy, legal aspects, economic aspects, social aspects, communication, technical aspects, and knowledge and training.<br/>Identified barriers at the policy level include lack of synchronization between national and local governments, lack of financial and human resources, lack of ambition of municipalities, and difficulty in dealing with home-owner associations and heterogenous districts with significant variations in the standard and age of the buildings. Legal barriers include obligations to comply with building construction norms also for other aspects than those related to energy when buildings are renovated or regulations protecting the cultural heritage. Economic barriers include lack of funding, market distortions, lack of financial incentives, complex rules to achieve funding for renovation work, and the resistance of private homeowners to take loans. Social barriers include difficulty in renovating areas with vulnerable low-income people and a lack of trust by citizens towards other energy renovation actors. Barriers related to communication include lack of advice, poor dialogue between stakeholders, lack of contact between building owners and energy professionals, and lack of coordination between institutions. Technical barriers include the lack of innovative technological solutions and the low energy performance of buildings, which makes it difficult to use efficient low-temperature district heating grids. Other identified barriers are the lack of knowledge and training of various energy actors.<br/>Drivers found at the policy level indicate that municipalities have an essential role in leading by example and being a central actor in reaching many stakeholders. Municipalities can also provide different types of economic support, e.g., using available funds to provide different types of subsidies, giving bank guarantees and offering low-interest loans to their municipal housing associations. Furthermore, they may stimulate building renovation by coordinating entire district renovation processes also among private building owners. Regarding legal aspects, ambitious requirements on energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy-based heating systems can be important drivers. Such regulations may also be combined, and they are best accepted, and therefore most effective, when something is given in return for compliance with far-reaching standards.<br/>Identified economic drivers include revolving loan funds as well as economic incentives to encourage a shift to non-fossil fuels. Many economic drivers are related to economies of scale, e.g., district heating projects may be economically advantageous compared to individual heating solutions. To promote a combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, an important driver is to determine subsidies based on gross floor area instead of the capacity of heating systems. Another driver is to focus on life cycle costs instead of investment costs. Drivers related to social aspects include citizen involvement and user participation to raise the acceptance for the energy renovation, to encourage initiatives from citizens and individual building owners for building renovation projects at the district level, improving the outdoor environment and attractiveness of the district being renovated as well as ensuring the continuity of families and the social cohesion in the district. Drivers related to communication include advice and guidance to actors involved in energy renovation of buildings at the district level during the whole renovation process, organizing networking meetings among building owners, communicating and spreading information about good practise and pilot areas, good communication between the different stakeholders involved in the project as well as map-based information informing citizens on available energy options. Technical drivers include standardisation and prefab solutions and, thereby, faster and more cost-effective construction, especially if the buildings to be renovated are of a similar type. The possibility to access a large energy source or the possibility to apply advanced efficient technologies can also be a driver for building renovation at the district level. Drivers related to knowledge and training include increased knowledge and experience among stakeholders involved in different parts of the renovation project, particularly energy professionals from both the private and the public sectors.<br/>It is concluded that local authorities are key actors. To facilitate renovation at the district level, they could act as moderators and central actors to reach many stakeholders and foster a positive attitude towards energy renovation. Similarly, housing associations can play an important role in energy renovation at the district level, acting as drivers of the renovation process and implementing a holistic renovation vision.}},
author = {{Johansson, Erik and Davidsson, Henrik}},
institution = {{International Energy Agency}},
isbn = {{978-989-35039-5-9}},
keywords = {{Energy efficiency; Urban districts; Renewable energy; Barriers; Drivers; Building renovation; Europe}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{05}},
title = {{Barriers and drivers for energy efficient renovation at district level}},
url = {{https://annex75.iea-ebc.org/Data/publications/Annex75_C3%20Report_BarriersDrivers_19_June_2023.pdf}},
year = {{2023}},
}