Towards Energy-neutral New Housing Developments. Municipal Climate Governance in The Netherlands

Abstract

The Dutch government intends to sharpen the current energy performance standard of the national building regulations for new buildings (Energy Performance Coefficient) step by step to an energy-neutral level by 2020. In their climate policies, municipalities are preparing to meet this level for new buildings—some of them even earlier. Nevertheless, possibilities to impose energy performance levels, higher than formulated at national level, are limited for municipalities. This paper investigates, how and through which policy instruments Dutch municipal authorities can promote energy-neutral new housing developments. This research suggests the following municipal climate governance approach and instruments: (1) an integrated design strategy for sustainable energy systems throughout the city: in both urban areas and buildings; (2) market-party-selection in tendering procedures based on sustainability criteria, including the energy performance of dwellings; (3) encouragement of community engagement for the deployment of renewable energy sources; (4) (inter)regional cooperation among cities in similar climatic zones on the development of both more uniform calculation methods for zero-energy buildings, and of a more uniform methodology for cities to monitor progress towards the self-set targets. However, stable and long-term-oriented European and national financial support for municipalities seems to be needed for municipal climate governance to become successful.

Acknowledgements

This research was conducted within the framework of the EU URBACT II project Housing Praxis for Urban Sustainability (HOPUS), which united academics and practitioners from across Europe. We would like to express our gratitude to the interviewees. The input they provided was of great value for this research.

Notes

In the Netherlands, the national Housing Act (1901) refers to the national Building Decree (2003) which contains technical building regulations for both new and existing buildings and for various building functions. It also includes minimum requirements in the areas of safety, health, usability, energy efficiency and the environment.

The Dutch government also signed the Energy Saving Covenant Housing Associations (2008) with Aedes, the branch organisation of Dutch housing associations (thereby subscribing to the reduction aims of the Spring Agreement), and with the Nederlandse Woonbond, the federation for Dutch tenants and tenant organizations.

Compared to the building-related energy consumption in buildings, built under 2007 building regulation and under scope of Dutch energy performance norm “EPN”. The new building production includes housing, commercial and industrial buildings.

In the first BANS climate covenant (1999), national and local governments agreed to dedicate themselves to reduce CO₂-emissions.

Amsterdam's city parts draw up own climate plans, for example Stadsdeel Amsterdam-North's “Wind in de rug—Klimaatplan 2009–2012” in which the ambitions of the Stadsdeel are formulated with regard to climate governance.

The sustainable design strategy ‘Trias Energetica’ (Duijvestein, 1997) follows three distinctive steps:(1) Reduce the energy demand, by taking energy saving technologies;(2) Use sustainable energy sources as much as possible;(3) If there is still an energy demand left, use fossil fuels as efficient as possible.The notion of ‘Trias Energica’ was introduced in 1996 by Novem (Lysen, 1996), and further developed by TU Delft (C.A.J. Duijvestein)

From 2008, connection to the city heat net has been obligatory by Amsterdam's building ordinance (bouwverordening), in case the city heat pipe lies within 40 m distance from the new building (Gemeente Amsterdam, 2011a).

EPL Quickscan was developed by SenterNovem.