Breakthrough needed for energy saving in homes
Climate street parties, energy boxes, model homes: these are just some of the examples of city projects aimed at saving energy in existing homes. There are much more examples which are mainly aimed at informing people and at raising awareness. However, these initiatives alone are not sufficient. Chairman, Mirjam de Rijk, alderman in Utrecht (the Netherlands), together with the advisory board Sustainable City Development of Nicis Institute, have formulated some recommendations for fellow city officials and the Dutch government about saving energy in existing houses.
Reducing CO₂and saving energy
About 80 percent of Dutch citizens live in urbanized areas. Therefore cities have a big responsibility in sustainable development. Not for nothing do cities execute climate policies in which amongst others there is a focus on CO₂-reduction and energy saving. More than half of CO₂-emissions exist in or around cities, which are characterized by a high density of development. Especially houses contribute greatly to the current use of energy.
Challenges for Europe if we are to make 2020 goals
Agreements on energy use and energy saving have been made in Europe. For Holland this means a reduction of 20 percent by 2020 compared to 2005. If cities want to achieve these goals then they will have to reduce energy usage in homes. In the Netherlands 300.000 to 500.000 homes need to be adjusted yearly in order to make this target; this is a big challenge. City officials play a key role in this area. But they cannot do this alone. Without proper constraints by the government city officials will not be able to make the impact needed.
Green Deal
At the moment energy saving has little priority in energy policies. This is strange seen the fact that the government has indicated in the coalition that it aims to create a ‘Green Deal’ with Dutch citizens, thanks to continuation and strengthening of the national approach to energy saving. An elaboration on this Green Deal has not been made however in the coalition. It will take some time before a precise meaning is given of this idea. Nicis Institute sees this as a chance to formulate an advise/recommendation towards cities and the Dutch government on this Green Deal, especially on saving energy in existing homes.
Recommendation by Nicis Institute
The advisory board of Nicis Institute have recommended that
cities do not invent new projects but rather that they implement
(elements of) projects and initiatives that work in other cities.
There is no need to reinvent the wheel; there are several good
practices, especially in the area of informing people and raising
awareness. The proposal is to shift the focus on the willingness to
act, enabling new financial arrangements and stimulating the
development of the total supply.