Sustainable Technology Development, case hot water

Panel: Panel 1: Assessment of Energy Efficiency Policy

Author:
Rolinde Oosterheert, NOVEM

Abstract

In the period 1993-1998 the Dutch Sustainable Technology Development Programme (STD) was conducted. The challenge of STD can be summarised in two key elements: a time horizon of fifty years and system innovation. STD has developed a methodology that takes a sustainable future vision as a starting point and then defines the steps that we should take today for new technologies and systems to be in place in time. An important aspect of the methodology is the attention for both social and cultural factors next to technology innovation.

The author has used STD in a case study to develop (as an exercise on paper) a long term strategy for reducing energy use related to hot water. It appears that a strategy for sustainable hot water requires a new focus, with a broader attention then only technology and with co-operation across the regular networks and working fields in order to achieve sustainable hot water use in 2050.

Three paths should be implemented in parallel:

Product developments that lead to less energy-intensive alternatives for showering and baths to fulfil the human need to relax.
Technology developments that reduce energy demand, e.g. by heat recovery of wastewater and by sun boilers.
System innovation that leads to new sewer systems which can cope with smaller volumes of colder water in future.

The author expects that the STD philosophy and methodology can contribute to rethinking and strengthening energy policy making.