CO2 reduction in post-war housing: costs, benefits and policy implications

In the Kyoto Protocol, governments of the industrialised countries agreed to reduce the total 1990 level of CO2 emissions by 5.2% between 2008 and 2012 thus increasing pressure on governments to establish CO2-reducing strategies. New housing production in the EU is 1.9 million units per year, or approximately 1% of the building stock. Dwellings yet to be built will constitute 15% of the total housing stock in 2020 and 5-10% of the total housing stock in the Kyoto period 2008-2012 [1]. Consequently, the existing housing stock is an important sector in reducing green house gas emissions according to the Kyoto agreements. In the Netherlands, a 3.6 Mton CO2 reduction could be achieved from existing housing if an average investment of ¿ 2,300 per dwelling was made and the energy tax was increased 2.5 times to shorten the pay-back time [2]. The environment, however, continues to play a small part in renewal projects [3].