4 THE RoLE oF HoUSEHoLDS IN DANISH ENERGY PoLICY …
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through prices, including reduced tariffs on electricity and electric cars.
Based on smart grid solutions, households are also expected to react to
flexible electricity prices.
Considering the scale of the challenge ahead, it might be beneficial
to involve households more actively in the energy system. Some citizens
take on this task themselves and organize both energy savings and provision of renewable energy, however some initiatives may raise complex
dilemmas. For instance, it is not always desirable from a systems perspective when households increase self-sufficiency (e.g. through solar panels, domestic wind turbines and batteries). Nevertheless, engagement is
decisive for the promotion of overall change, and active municipalities
may facilitate a reasonable fit between considerations of systems and
engagement.
sustainabLe energy Consumption initiatives
It is evident from the above description that the Danish energy system,
Danish national energy policies, and initiatives for energy reductions
have developed and changed over time in such a way that several aspects
have become interlaced. Dependence on rational choice mechanisms
across policy, initiatives and evolving system configuration has resulted
in complex, and sometimes contradicting dynamics (such as a push for
cheap district heating and resulting lack of thermal insulation measures).
It is therefore no surprise that energy demand dynamics are multidimensional and difficult to address. Equally, it is of no surprise that several, sometimes contrasting initiatives for energy reduction come about,
as also highlighted in the previous section.
National sustainable energy consumption initiatives tend to either
focus on technological optimization and consumer adoption of more
energy efficient products (e.g. energy saving contests; various Danish
Energy Agency campaigns), or an altogether different approach of establishing small eco-communities that develop their own independent grids
and alternative lifestyles (e.g. eco-villages; transition towns). As mentioned earlier, municipalities hold the potential for establishing initiatives
that enable broader, systemic changes as well as local engagement, and a
few sustainable energy consumption initiatives have been developed with
this consideration in mind. An example of one such initiative is given
below.
41
through prices, including reduced tariffs on electricity and electric cars.
Based on smart grid solutions, households are also expected to react to
flexible electricity prices.
Considering the scale of the challenge ahead, it might be beneficial
to involve households more actively in the energy system. Some citizens
take on this task themselves and organize both energy savings and provision of renewable energy, however some initiatives may raise complex
dilemmas. For instance, it is not always desirable from a systems perspective when households increase self-sufficiency (e.g. through solar panels, domestic wind turbines and batteries). Nevertheless, engagement is
decisive for the promotion of overall change, and active municipalities
may facilitate a reasonable fit between considerations of systems and
engagement.
sustainabLe energy Consumption initiatives
It is evident from the above description that the Danish energy system,
Danish national energy policies, and initiatives for energy reductions
have developed and changed over time in such a way that several aspects
have become interlaced. Dependence on rational choice mechanisms
across policy, initiatives and evolving system configuration has resulted
in complex, and sometimes contradicting dynamics (such as a push for
cheap district heating and resulting lack of thermal insulation measures).
It is therefore no surprise that energy demand dynamics are multidimensional and difficult to address. Equally, it is of no surprise that several, sometimes contrasting initiatives for energy reduction come about,
as also highlighted in the previous section.
National sustainable energy consumption initiatives tend to either
focus on technological optimization and consumer adoption of more
energy efficient products (e.g. energy saving contests; various Danish
Energy Agency campaigns), or an altogether different approach of establishing small eco-communities that develop their own independent grids
and alternative lifestyles (e.g. eco-villages; transition towns). As mentioned earlier, municipalities hold the potential for establishing initiatives
that enable broader, systemic changes as well as local engagement, and a
few sustainable energy consumption initiatives have been developed with
this consideration in mind. An example of one such initiative is given
below.