How important is energy efficient housing when it comes to working towards net zero carbon targets? In this article, the authors examine different energy service models for improving decarbonisation of housing, and whether any hold potential to be scaled up to help accelerate the path to net zero. They turn to the context of the United Kingdom to explore options, and consider how policy can shift to better empower local authorities to get involved. Check out the abstract below, and then click through to the main article to learn more:
Housing retrofit: six types of local authority energy service models
Peer-reviewed research by: Margaret Tingey, Janette Webb and Dan van der Horst
Given the ambitious policy target to become net zero carbon by 2050, what role can local authorities play in the decarbonisation of housing? An examination is presented of six local authority energy service models relevant to housing retrofit in Britain. Local authorities have an important role, with local knowledge about housing stock and economic opportunities; they also have relevant planning and governance responsibilities. However, relatively little is known about either the different energy service models adopted for retrofit or their relative effectiveness. Models identified from empirical case study research constitute experimental innovations resulting from constrained finances and competition requirements in public services. They provided (1) energy-efficiency upgrades to public, residential and commercial buildings and/or (2) district heating infrastructure to secure ‘upstream’ resource efficiencies. Findings show that local initiatives provided different retrofit mixes, with differing potential for effective change. The limitations of current models are considered, along with the policy and market changes needed to empower local authorities to contribute systematically to net zero carbon buildings.
Click here to read the full open-access article, published in 2021 in the journal Buildings and Cities.
Full Reference //
Tingey, M., Webb, J. and van der Horst, D., 2021. Housing retrofit: six types of local authority energy service models. Buildings and Cities, 2(1), p.518–532.
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