Overcoming barriers to low carbon dwellings: The need for innovative models of finance and service-provision

Abstract

Atmospheric CO2 concentration is one of three planetary boundaries that have already been overstepped, risking unacceptable environmental change. Rapid and deep emission reductions (≈6% per annum) are required to minimise the time spent outside the safe planetary boundary for atmospheric CO2 concentration. This paper focuses on how one sector, residential, in one country, the UK, could contribute to emission reductions of this order and urgency being achieved.A review is made of the current trend in UK residential emissions and energy use, and of the plans and policies in place to reduce emissions from this sector. It is demonstrated that these are likely to deliver emission reductions of under 2% per annum to 2020. It is shown that key policies are self-limiting, locking us into action at the current level of social/political will. An analysis of current and proposed policies identifies their limitations and the unresolved barriers to action. New policies and structures are proposed to overcome these limitations. These include strong support for the proposal that the Green Deal should allow consumers to make up the difference between technology costs and energy cost savings should they wish, and reorganising the energy market to make supplying high consuming dwellings less profitable than acting as an ESCO and reducing consumption. However, it is concluded that the key barrier is psychological and a rapid paradigm shift is required towards living within a safe operating space as individuals and societies; policies must promote and be ready to take advantage of this paradigm shift.