Unintended Effects of Energy Efficiency Policy: Lessons Learned in the Residential Sector
The European Union has set an ambitious goal to tackle climate change, and energy efficiency in the residential sector is among the measures required to close the gap between targeted and actual greenhouse gas emissions. While different policy tools have been applied, the diffusion rate of these mea...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-11-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/22/7792 |
| _version_ | 1797510451666354176 |
|---|---|
| author | Andra Blumberga Gatis Bazbauers Selina Vancane Ivars Ijabs Jurijs Nikisins Dagnija Blumberga |
| author_facet | Andra Blumberga Gatis Bazbauers Selina Vancane Ivars Ijabs Jurijs Nikisins Dagnija Blumberga |
| author_sort | Andra Blumberga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The European Union has set an ambitious goal to tackle climate change, and energy efficiency in the residential sector is among the measures required to close the gap between targeted and actual greenhouse gas emissions. While different policy tools have been applied, the diffusion rate of these measures remains low. A system dynamics simulation model of the residential sector was developed to assess the advantages and drawbacks of energy efficiency policy in the multi-family building sector based on experience accumulated over the last twelve years in Latvia. The model was validated in expert group model building sessions and with historical trends. Simulating the model, a hypothesis was tested that supported the idea that seemingly positive policy tools set the stage for a series of unintended adverse effects due to the complex interactions between different system components. The common assumption that information and financial support should result in significant energy efficiency diffusion proved to be wrong. It instead results in unintended long-term consequences that hamper national energy efficiency goals. The model carried out an analysis and brought insights for improving the effectiveness of government energy efficiency policy. It is concluded that models that broadly describe complex systems are needed to identify effective policies and foresee unintended side effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:31:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c61ad3cf6b846e6a1e1ea4671a84087 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:31:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c61ad3cf6b846e6a1e1ea4671a840872023-11-22T23:13:30ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-11-011422779210.3390/en14227792Unintended Effects of Energy Efficiency Policy: Lessons Learned in the Residential SectorAndra Blumberga0Gatis Bazbauers1Selina Vancane2Ivars Ijabs3Jurijs Nikisins4Dagnija Blumberga5Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, LatviaInstitute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, LatviaInstitute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, LatviaAdvanced Social and Political Research Institute, University of Latvia, LV-1019 Riga, LatviaAdvanced Social and Political Research Institute, University of Latvia, LV-1019 Riga, LatviaInstitute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, LatviaThe European Union has set an ambitious goal to tackle climate change, and energy efficiency in the residential sector is among the measures required to close the gap between targeted and actual greenhouse gas emissions. While different policy tools have been applied, the diffusion rate of these measures remains low. A system dynamics simulation model of the residential sector was developed to assess the advantages and drawbacks of energy efficiency policy in the multi-family building sector based on experience accumulated over the last twelve years in Latvia. The model was validated in expert group model building sessions and with historical trends. Simulating the model, a hypothesis was tested that supported the idea that seemingly positive policy tools set the stage for a series of unintended adverse effects due to the complex interactions between different system components. The common assumption that information and financial support should result in significant energy efficiency diffusion proved to be wrong. It instead results in unintended long-term consequences that hamper national energy efficiency goals. The model carried out an analysis and brought insights for improving the effectiveness of government energy efficiency policy. It is concluded that models that broadly describe complex systems are needed to identify effective policies and foresee unintended side effects.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/22/7792energy efficiencyresidential buildingspolicy tools |
| spellingShingle | Andra Blumberga Gatis Bazbauers Selina Vancane Ivars Ijabs Jurijs Nikisins Dagnija Blumberga Unintended Effects of Energy Efficiency Policy: Lessons Learned in the Residential Sector Energies energy efficiency residential buildings policy tools |
| title | Unintended Effects of Energy Efficiency Policy: Lessons Learned in the Residential Sector |
| title_full | Unintended Effects of Energy Efficiency Policy: Lessons Learned in the Residential Sector |
| title_fullStr | Unintended Effects of Energy Efficiency Policy: Lessons Learned in the Residential Sector |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unintended Effects of Energy Efficiency Policy: Lessons Learned in the Residential Sector |
| title_short | Unintended Effects of Energy Efficiency Policy: Lessons Learned in the Residential Sector |
| title_sort | unintended effects of energy efficiency policy lessons learned in the residential sector |
| topic | energy efficiency residential buildings policy tools |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/22/7792 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andrablumberga unintendedeffectsofenergyefficiencypolicylessonslearnedintheresidentialsector AT gatisbazbauers unintendedeffectsofenergyefficiencypolicylessonslearnedintheresidentialsector AT selinavancane unintendedeffectsofenergyefficiencypolicylessonslearnedintheresidentialsector AT ivarsijabs unintendedeffectsofenergyefficiencypolicylessonslearnedintheresidentialsector AT jurijsnikisins unintendedeffectsofenergyefficiencypolicylessonslearnedintheresidentialsector AT dagnijablumberga unintendedeffectsofenergyefficiencypolicylessonslearnedintheresidentialsector |