7 TURNING oFF THE GAS TAP: SUSTAINABLE ENERGY …
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Energy use in the Dutch residential sector has decreased in recent
years, and this downward trend is believed to continue, not least due to
legislation particularly targeting the rental sector (Schoots et al. 2017).
Cautionary voices are warning that the actual energy consumption of
households in buildings with the most efficient energy labels (A–B) is
higher than their theoretical energy consumption, which is used to inform
energy policy (Majcen et al. 2013). other research indicates that an ageing
population and increasing wealth are likely to offset the effects of energy
policies focusing on the physical and technical aspects of home energy use
alone (Brounen et al. 2012). Since evidence suggests that the current and
projected energy use of the Dutch dwelling stock and households is higher
than assumed, additional energy saving measures are needed to achieve the
full reduction potentials and meet energy consumption targets.
Personal mobility also makes up for a great share of energy use. More
than 70% of Dutch households own at least one car (CBS 2017) and the
total number of private vehicles on Dutch roads continues to rise (CBS
2019). Partially due to public policy, cars on Dutch streets are comparatively smaller and more efficient than in other countries in Europe’s
North-West. A particularity of the Netherlands is the Dutch ‘cycling
culture’, which is catered to and supported by an extensive network of
cycling paths as well as user-friendly bike rental and leasing schemes. In
addition, private mobility needs are met by a well-maintained road infrastructure and a rather efficient public transportation system.
energy poLiCy in the netherLanDs
Dutch national policy for the built environment focuses on energy efficiency, offering subsidies for heat pumps, and biomass, wood pellet or
solar thermal heating systems to private homeowners, and since 2017 also
to municipalities, provinces and public bodies. The ‘energy efficiency you
do now’ (energie besparen doe je nu) programme provides cheap loans
for energy efficiency renovations (e.g. insulation) to private homeowners
and associations of apartment owners. Further, national government supports industry efforts with respect to electric heat pumps, district heating
(geothermal and residual/waste heat) and the electrification of transport,
including personal mobility. Furthermore, national energy policy requires
utilities to support home energy savings, which often takes the form of
energy saving tips, information on renovations and available subsidies,
as well as smart meter-supported real-time data on home energy use.
The overall goal for the national roll-out of smart meters is offering a
73
Energy use in the Dutch residential sector has decreased in recent
years, and this downward trend is believed to continue, not least due to
legislation particularly targeting the rental sector (Schoots et al. 2017).
Cautionary voices are warning that the actual energy consumption of
households in buildings with the most efficient energy labels (A–B) is
higher than their theoretical energy consumption, which is used to inform
energy policy (Majcen et al. 2013). other research indicates that an ageing
population and increasing wealth are likely to offset the effects of energy
policies focusing on the physical and technical aspects of home energy use
alone (Brounen et al. 2012). Since evidence suggests that the current and
projected energy use of the Dutch dwelling stock and households is higher
than assumed, additional energy saving measures are needed to achieve the
full reduction potentials and meet energy consumption targets.
Personal mobility also makes up for a great share of energy use. More
than 70% of Dutch households own at least one car (CBS 2017) and the
total number of private vehicles on Dutch roads continues to rise (CBS
2019). Partially due to public policy, cars on Dutch streets are comparatively smaller and more efficient than in other countries in Europe’s
North-West. A particularity of the Netherlands is the Dutch ‘cycling
culture’, which is catered to and supported by an extensive network of
cycling paths as well as user-friendly bike rental and leasing schemes. In
addition, private mobility needs are met by a well-maintained road infrastructure and a rather efficient public transportation system.
energy poLiCy in the netherLanDs
Dutch national policy for the built environment focuses on energy efficiency, offering subsidies for heat pumps, and biomass, wood pellet or
solar thermal heating systems to private homeowners, and since 2017 also
to municipalities, provinces and public bodies. The ‘energy efficiency you
do now’ (energie besparen doe je nu) programme provides cheap loans
for energy efficiency renovations (e.g. insulation) to private homeowners
and associations of apartment owners. Further, national government supports industry efforts with respect to electric heat pumps, district heating
(geothermal and residual/waste heat) and the electrification of transport,
including personal mobility. Furthermore, national energy policy requires
utilities to support home energy savings, which often takes the form of
energy saving tips, information on renovations and available subsidies,
as well as smart meter-supported real-time data on home energy use.
The overall goal for the national roll-out of smart meters is offering a