Development of Policy to Reduce CO2 Emissions in the Dutch Buildings Sector

Robert P. Kool, Stephan Jenniskens, Rebecca van Leeuwen-Jones, Daniel van Rijn, and Marian Poolen, The Netherlands Agency for Energy and the Environment

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Abstract

Like all western countries, the Netherlands faces market transformation and increasing challenges to developing a sustainable society. This paper describes the development, by the Netherlands Agency for Energy and the Environment (Novem), of the Strategic Framework for the Market Implementation of Energy Efficiency within the Dutch Built Environment (SFBE), an element of the government effort to meet Kyoto Protocol and European Union greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets for the Netherlands.

The SFBE was designed using data for long-term Dutch energy-efficiency programs, which give reliable monitoring and evaluation information on energy consumption and savings potential in the Dutch industrial and residential sectors. In addition, the framework design takes advantage of recent insights about the use of marketing techniques to influence customers to adopt energy-efficient and sustainable products and methods. The effects of mandatory and voluntary policy instruments to reduce GHG emissions were assessed, and the building sectors and audiences with the greatest potential for saving energy and reducing GHG emissions were identified.

Results were discussed with peer groups and experts, strategic scenarios were developed and presented to the government, and government decisions about target building sectors and audiences were the basis for the final program (currently being implemented) using the SFBE. The policy instruments selected include building regulations, voluntary local planning, tax changes, and national covenants with key participants.

This work will be enlarged in 2002 to address the whole field of sustainable practices.