Accelerating the diffusion of energy-efficient building technologies with policies – The case of Switzerland

Marius Schwarz,Christof Knoeri

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1343/1/012084

Abstract

The diffusion of energy-efficient building technologies is crucial for decarbonizing the building sector. However, many of these technologies diffuse slowly despite being economically superior compared to carbon-intensive alternatives. This study analyzes how combinations of different policies can effectively close this energy-efficiency gap. Applying an agent-based model that represents construction planning in Switzerland between 1995-2015, we ex-post evaluate the impact of four policies – financial incentives, mandatory building energy codes, voluntary energy labels, information campaigns – on the diffusion of three technologies – heat pumps, comfort ventilation, low-e glazing. Results indicate type and timing of policy combinations as key for successful technology diffusion.

Highlights

The energy sector offers a remarkable potential for the reduction of energy demand and carbon emissions
Applying an agent-based model that represents construction planning in Switzerland between 1995-2015, we ex-post evaluate the impact of four policies – financial incentives, mandatory building energy codes, voluntary energy labels, information campaigns – on the diffusion of three technologies – heat pumps, comfort ventilation, low-e glazing
We develop an agent-based model that represents construction planning in Switzerland, and ex-ante simulate the diffusion of three successful energyefficient building technologies (EEBTs) in Switzerland, namely heat pumps, comfort ventilation, and low-e glazing, from 1995 to 2015

Summary

Introduction

The energy sector offers a remarkable potential for the reduction of energy demand and carbon emissions. Energy demand from buildings and activities in buildings account for 31% of global final energy demand [1], of which three-quarters are for thermal purposes This demand could be reduced by about 46% by 2050 compared to the 2005 levels by applying today’s best practice energyefficient building technologies (EEBTs) – technologies that either use renewables as an energy source or are more efficient than standard solutions [2]. Many of these EEBTs still do not, or only slowly diffuse despite being economically superior compared to their carbon-intensive alternatives [3]. Most studies that evaluate the impact of policies on the diffusion of EEBTs consider construction planning as a black box rather than the complex multi-stakeholder process it is

Objectives

Results

Conclusion