44 I. RØPKE ET AL.
efforts to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement (Klimarådet 2018).
Much of the national carbon-reduction measures focus on energy-intensive industrial plants (covered by the EU Emissions Trading
System, ETS), through the establishment of offshore wind farms and
other investments in wind, solar power and biogas. 6 Little is included
to reduce emissions from the sectors that are not covered by ETS,
such as transport, agriculture and buildings. Equally, a missing focus
on energy savings is reflected in the lack of measures to reduce energy
use in existing buildings. New buildings are constructed to high
energy standards, but there is significant potential for energy renovation of the older housing stock, which would be a relatively cheap way
to reduce carbon emissions. Finally, households have had access to various subsidies for retrofits, installation of solar panels and replacement
of oil burners with heat pumps, however, although some subsidies
are still available (often mediated through the electricity distribution
companies 7 ), the present level is low. The support for solar panels has
been characterized by stop-go policies, as the impacts and expenses
have been difficult to predict. The Energy Agency runs a webpage
with advice on energy savings, renovation, subsidies, etc., 8 but in practice, it does not appear to be a high priority for the state to involve
households actively in the transition. The focus on energy reductions,
particularly related to household energy demand is ultimately low, and
the energy transition potential is seen mainly as a technical problem
with technical solutions. Very little is done to target levels of energy
demand at a national level. The presented good-practice example is
a rare, but good, example of how everyday life perspectives, matters
of convenience and institutionalized conditions around energy retrofitting potentials (or lack thereof) have been addressed at a municipal
level.
7 https://efkm.dk/aktuelt/nyheder/2016/dec/ny-energispareaftale-paa-plads/.
8 https://sparenergi.dk/.
6 https://efkm.dk/ministeriet/aftaler-og-politiske-udspil/energiaftalen/.
efforts to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement (Klimarådet 2018).
Much of the national carbon-reduction measures focus on energy-intensive industrial plants (covered by the EU Emissions Trading
System, ETS), through the establishment of offshore wind farms and
other investments in wind, solar power and biogas. 6 Little is included
to reduce emissions from the sectors that are not covered by ETS,
such as transport, agriculture and buildings. Equally, a missing focus
on energy savings is reflected in the lack of measures to reduce energy
use in existing buildings. New buildings are constructed to high
energy standards, but there is significant potential for energy renovation of the older housing stock, which would be a relatively cheap way
to reduce carbon emissions. Finally, households have had access to various subsidies for retrofits, installation of solar panels and replacement
of oil burners with heat pumps, however, although some subsidies
are still available (often mediated through the electricity distribution
companies 7 ), the present level is low. The support for solar panels has
been characterized by stop-go policies, as the impacts and expenses
have been difficult to predict. The Energy Agency runs a webpage
with advice on energy savings, renovation, subsidies, etc., 8 but in practice, it does not appear to be a high priority for the state to involve
households actively in the transition. The focus on energy reductions,
particularly related to household energy demand is ultimately low, and
the energy transition potential is seen mainly as a technical problem
with technical solutions. Very little is done to target levels of energy
demand at a national level. The presented good-practice example is
a rare, but good, example of how everyday life perspectives, matters
of convenience and institutionalized conditions around energy retrofitting potentials (or lack thereof) have been addressed at a municipal
level.
7 https://efkm.dk/aktuelt/nyheder/2016/dec/ny-energispareaftale-paa-plads/.
8 https://sparenergi.dk/.
6 https://efkm.dk/ministeriet/aftaler-og-politiske-udspil/energiaftalen/.