76 J. BACKHAUS
The good practice example below highlights the already high level
of awareness of energy issues in the Dutch populace and indicates
that—building on general awareness and willingness to change—
personal, tailored advice paired with efficient technologies can help
achieve significant consumption reduction of more than 40% in
energy use.
Case stuDy: the perspeCtive projeCt (projeCt perspektief)
The Perspective project tested the possibility of living a low-energy lifestyle with a high level of well-being in a system of economic growth.
The research project was carried out in the Netherlands from 1995 until
1998, financed by the then Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and
the Environment (Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke ordening
en Milieu; VRoM). Supported by a research institute and two universities, the consultancy practitioner CEA implemented the project, involving private households. The initial 20 households were hand-picked and
committed to aiming to reduce their energy use as much as possible over
a period of two years. They were informed about the energy intensity of
products and services, and coached and monitored throughout the entire
run-time of the project towards achieving and maintaining a low-energy
lifestyle (Project Team Perspective 1999).
In the Dutch context, the Perspective project is unique in terms of
its focus, funding, duration and ambitions. National government was
confronted with a constant increase of energy use, including by households. Research demonstrated that demand would continuously grow
unless addressed. Therefore, the idea emerged to test whether energy
use can be reduced and kept low, even if income increases, while
well-being remains stable or improves. The Perspective project benefited from a general awareness of environmental and energy issues
beyond the research and policy sphere. However, an exploration of
what a reduction of indirect energy use means in practice was unprecedented (Schmidt 2017). A variety of households were selected for
participation, and it appears that financial gains were as much a motivation to participate as possible environmental gains (Project Team
Perspective 1999).
The good practice example below highlights the already high level
of awareness of energy issues in the Dutch populace and indicates
that—building on general awareness and willingness to change—
personal, tailored advice paired with efficient technologies can help
achieve significant consumption reduction of more than 40% in
energy use.
Case stuDy: the perspeCtive projeCt (projeCt perspektief)
The Perspective project tested the possibility of living a low-energy lifestyle with a high level of well-being in a system of economic growth.
The research project was carried out in the Netherlands from 1995 until
1998, financed by the then Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and
the Environment (Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke ordening
en Milieu; VRoM). Supported by a research institute and two universities, the consultancy practitioner CEA implemented the project, involving private households. The initial 20 households were hand-picked and
committed to aiming to reduce their energy use as much as possible over
a period of two years. They were informed about the energy intensity of
products and services, and coached and monitored throughout the entire
run-time of the project towards achieving and maintaining a low-energy
lifestyle (Project Team Perspective 1999).
In the Dutch context, the Perspective project is unique in terms of
its focus, funding, duration and ambitions. National government was
confronted with a constant increase of energy use, including by households. Research demonstrated that demand would continuously grow
unless addressed. Therefore, the idea emerged to test whether energy
use can be reduced and kept low, even if income increases, while
well-being remains stable or improves. The Perspective project benefited from a general awareness of environmental and energy issues
beyond the research and policy sphere. However, an exploration of
what a reduction of indirect energy use means in practice was unprecedented (Schmidt 2017). A variety of households were selected for
participation, and it appears that financial gains were as much a motivation to participate as possible environmental gains (Project Team
Perspective 1999).