A qualitative evaluation of policy instruments used to improve energy performance of existing private dwellings in the Netherlands

Energy Policy

Volumn 45, Issue , 2012, Pages 459-468

  Murphy, Lorraine ^a   Meijer, Frits ^a   Visscher, Henk ^a  

^a DELFT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY   (Netherlands)

Author keywords

Evaluation; Existing private dwellings; Policy instruments

Indexed keywords

CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES; ENERGY PERFORMANCE; EVALUATION; EVALUATION FRAMEWORK; EXISTING PRIVATE DWELLINGS; INFORMATION TOOLS; INSTRUMENT MIX; NATIONAL LEVEL; NETHERLANDS; POLICY CONCEPT; POLICY INSTRUMENTS; QUALITATIVE EVALUATIONS; THEORY-BASED EVALUATION;

APARTMENT HOUSES; BUILDINGS; ENERGY EFFICIENCY; ENERGY POLICY;

INSTRUMENTS;

CLIMATE CHANGE; ENERGY EFFICIENCY; ENERGY POLICY; ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY; QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS; STAKEHOLDER;

NETHERLANDS;

EID: 84859776554     PISSN: 03014215     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2012.02.056     Document Type: Article

References (64)

1. Adjei, A., et al., 2011. Deliverable 5.2 A Study of Homeowners' Energy Efficiency Improvements and the Impact of the Energy Performance Certificate Appendix B-G. Available at: (accessed 5/11). http://www.ideal-epbd.ed.
2. Ang G., et al. Dutch performance-based approach to building regulations and public procurement. Building Research and Information 2005, 33(2):107-119.
3. Beerepoot M., Beerepoot N. Government regulation as an impetus for innovation: evidence from energy performance regulation in the Dutch residential building sector. Energy Policy 2007, 3(10):4812-4825.
4. Bemelmans-Videc M.L., et al. Carrots, Sticks and Sermons: Policy Instruments and their Evaluation 1998, Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick.
5. Blom, M.J., 2009. Effecten en uitwerking van een Energiebesparingfonds. Available at: (accessed 05/11). http://www.ce.nl/publicatie/effecten.
6. Boardman, B., 2007. Home Truths: A Low-Carbon Strategy to Reduce UK Housing Emissions by 80% by 2050. Available at: (accessed 11/11). http://www.foe.co.uk/hometruths.
7. Bressers H., Huitema D. Economic instruments for environmental protection: can we trust the 'magic carpet'?. International Political Science Review 1999, 20(2):175-196.
8. Bressers H., De Bruijn T. Environmental voluntary agreements in the Dutch context. The Handbook of Environmental Voluntary Agreements 2005, 261-281. Springer, the Netherlands. E. Croci (Ed.).
9. Brounen, D., Kok, N., 2010. On the economics of EU Energy Labels in the Housing Market. Available at: (accessed 03/11). http://www.joinricsineurope.eu/.
10. BZK (Ministrie voor Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties), 2010. Cijers over Wonen, Wijken en Integratie 2010. Available at: (accessed 03/11). http://www.rijksoverheid.nl.
11. BZK, 2011. Plan van Aanpak Energiebesparing Gebouwde Omgeving. Available at: (accessed 06/11). http://www.rijksoverheid.nl.
12. Caird S., et al. Improving the energy performance of UK households: results from surveys of consumer adoption and use of low and zero carbon technologies. Energy Efficiency 2008, 1(2):149-166.
13. Calwell, C., 2010. Is Efficient Sufficient? The Case for Shifting Our Emphasis in Energy Specifications to Progressive Efficiency and Sufficiency. Available at: (accessed January 2011). http://www.eceee.org/sufficiency/.
14. CBS, 2011. Bijna 16 procent van de in 2010 verkochte woningen heeft energielabel, Artikel, maandag 23 mei 2011. Available at: (accessed 05/11). http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/bouwen-wonen/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2011/2011-verkochte-woningen-met-energielabel-pub.htm.
15. de Nationale Ombudsman, 2010. Rapport 2010/334. Available at: (accessed 03/11). http://www.nationaleombudsman.nl/rapporten/2010/334.
16. EC, 2008. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Energy Performance of Buildings (recast). Available at: (accessed 06/09). http://eur-lex.europa.eu.
17. ECN, 2010. Reference Projection Energy and Emissions 2010-2020. Available at: (accessed 12/10). http://www.ecn.nl/publications/Default.aspx.
18. Eliadis P., et al. Designing Government: From Instruments to Governance 2007, McGill-Queen's University Press, Quebec.
19. ENDS Europe, 2005. Holland Rejects EU Buildings Energy Law, Friday 30 September 2005. Available at: (accessed 11/09). http://www.endseurope.com/11051.
20. Engelund Thomsen, K., et al., 2009. Thresholds Related to Renovation of Buildings, EPBD Definitions and Rules. Available at: (accessed 01/11). http://publica.fraunhofer.de/starweb/pub09/servlet.starweb.
21. EuroACE, 2010. Making Money Work for Buildings: Financial and Fiscal Instrument for Energy Efficiency in Buildings. Available at: (accessed 06/11). http://www.euroace.org/MediaPublications/PublicationsReports.aspx.
22. Fuller, M., et al., 2010. Driving Demand for Home Energy Improvements: Motivating Residential Customers to Invest in Comprehensive Upgrades that Eliminate Energy Waste, Avoid High Bills and Spur the Economy. Available at: (accessed 12/11). http://eetd.lbl.gov/news-archives/news-driving-demand.html.
23. Gram-Hanssen K., et al. Do homeowners use energy labels? A comparison between Denmark and Belgium. Energy Policy 2007, 35(5):2879-2888.
24. Groot, M. et al., 2009. Energiepresatie-eisen bestaande woningen. Available at: (accessed 01/11). http://www.ce.nl.
25. Guerra Santin O., et al. The effect of occupancy and building characteristics on energy use for space and water heating in Dutch residential stock. Energy and Buildings 2009, 41(11):1223-1232.
26. Gunningham N., Sinclair D. Regulatory pluralism: designing policy mixes for environmental protection. Law & Policy 1999, 21(1):49-76.
27. Hamilton, B., et al., 2010. A Comparison of Energy Efficiency Programmes for Existing Homes in Eleven Countries. Available at: (accessed 09/10). http://www.raponline.org/Feature.asp?select=144.
28. Harmelink M., et al. Theory-based policy evaluation of 20 energy efficiency instruments. Energy Efficiency 2008, 1(2):131-148.
29. Höhne, N., et al., 2009. Scorecards on the Best and Worst Policies for a Green New Deal. Available at: (accessed 08/11). http://www.e3g.org/programmes/climate-articles/scorecards-on-best-and-worst-policies-for-a-green-new-deal/.
30. Hood C., Margetts H. The Tools of Government in the Digital Age 2007, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke.
31. Hoogelander, K.J., 2006. Impact National Energy Performance Certification Test the Netherlands. Available at: (accessed 01/11). http://www.e-impact.org/.
32. Hoppe T., Bressers J.Th.A, Lulofs K.R.D. Local government influence on energy conservation ambitions in existing housing sites-Plucking the low hanging fruit?. Energy Policy 2011, 39:916-925.
33. Howlett M. Beyond good and evil in policy implementation: instrument mixes, implementation styles, and second generation theories of policy instrument choice. Policy and Society 2004, 23(2):1-17. (2004).
34. Howlett M. Designing Public Policies: Principles and Instruments 2011, Routledge, Oxon.
35. Itard L., Meijer F. Towards a Sustainable Northern European Housing Stock: Figures, Facts and Future 2008, IOS Press, Amsterdam.
36. Joosen, S., et al., 2004. Evaluatie van het klimaatbeleid in de gebouwde omgeving 1995-2002. Available at: (accessed 01/11). http://www.ecofys.nl/nl/publicaties/evaluatie_klimaatbeleid_gebouwde_omgeving_1995_2002.asp.
37. Kern F., Smith A. Restructuring energy systems for sustainability? Energy transition policy in the Netherlands. Energy Policy 2008, 36:4093-4103.
38. Koeppel, S., et al., 2007. Is There a Silver Bullet? A Comparative Assessment of Twenty Policy Instruments Applied Worldwide for Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Buildings. Available at: (accessed 01/11). http://www.eceee.org/conference_proceedings/eceee/2007/Panel_2/2.349/Paper/.
39. Lascoumes P., Le Galès P. Introduction-understanding public policy through its instruments-from the nature of instruments to the sociology of public policy instrumentation. Governance 2007, 20(1):1-21.
40. Lockwood, M., Platt, R., 2009. Green Streets-Final Report to British Gas, March 2009. Available at: (accessed 01/11). http://www.ippr.org.
41. McCormick, K., Neij, L., 2009. Experience of Policy Instruments for Energy Efficiency in Buildings in the Nordic Countries. Available at: (accessed 01/11). http://www.cerbof.se/sa/node.asp?node=225.
42. McKinsey & Company, 2009. Pathways to a Low Carbon Economy, Version 2 of the Global Greenhouse Gas Abatement Curve. Available at: (accessed 11/09). https://solutions.mckinsey.com/ClimateDesk/default.aspx.
43. MEZLI (Ministerie van Economische Zaken Landbouw en Innovatie), 2011. Beantwoording vragen kamerlid Pechtold c.s. over afrekenbaarheid en controleerbaarheid van kabinetsdoelen. Available at: (accessed 02/11). http://www.rijksoverheid.nl.
44. Milieu Centraal, 2011. Milieu Centraal in 2010, Jaarverslag. Available at: (accessed 3/11). http://www.milieucentraal.nl/pagina.aspx?onderwerp=jaarverslag%202010.
45. Mlecnik E., et al. Barriers and opportunities for labels for highly energy-efficient houses. Energy Policy 2010, 38(8):4592-4603.
46. MmM, 2009. Jaarverslag 2009. Available at: (accessed 01/11). http://www.meermetminder.nl.
47. MmM, 2010. Evaluatie Stimuleringspremie Meer met Minder, Zoetermeer, 7 May 2010.
48. MmM, 2011. Met gemak energie besparen, Number 4-2011, 7 June 2011.
49. Noailly J., Batrakova S. Stimulating energy-efficiency innovations in the Dutch building sector: empirical evidence from patent counts and policy lessons. Energy Policy 2010, 38:7803-7817.
50. Rovers R. Sustainable Housing Projects: Implementing a Conceptual Approach 2008, Techne Press, Amsterdam.
51. Rubin H., Rubin I. Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data 2004, Sage, Thousand Oaks.
52. Salamon L.M. The Tools of Government: A Guide to the New Governance 2002, Oxford University Press, New York.
53. Schalkwijk, M., Mulder, S., 2009. Gevelisolatie in Nederland: Kansen en barrieres voor gevelisolatie in oudere woningen. Unpublished Research Survey by TNS NIPO on Behalf of Milieu Centraal, TNS NIPO, Amsterdam.
54. Schalkwijk, M., Mulder, S., 2011. Warme voeten? Onderzoek naar vloer-en-bodemisolatie in oudere woningen. Unpublished Research Survey by TNS NIPO on Behalf of Milieu Centraal, TNS NIPO, Amsterdam.
55. Schneider, H., Jharap, R., 2010. Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Evaluatie van drie convenanten energiebesparing in de gebouwde omgeving: Meer met Minder, Lente-Akkord, Energiebesparing Corporatiesector. Available at: (accessed 05/10). http://www.builddesk.nl/.
56. Tambach M., Hasselaar E., Itard L. Assessment of current Dutch energy transition policy instruments for the existing housing stock. Energy Policy 2010, 38:981-996.
57. 2 emissions. Building Research & Information 2007, 35(4):458-477.
58. Van der Doelen F.C.J. The "give-and-take" packaging of policy instruments: optimising legitimacy and effectiveness. Carrots, Sticks & Sermons: Policy Instruments and their Evaluation 1998, 129-146. Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick. M.L. Bemelmans-Videc (Ed.).
59. Vedung E., van der Doelen F.C.J. The sermon: information programs in the public policy process-choice, effects and evaluation. Carrots, Sticks & Sermons: Policy Instruments and their Evaluation 1998, 103-128. Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick. M.L. Bemelmans-Videc (Ed.).
60. VEH, 2007. Brief over uitstellen energielabel. Available at: (accessed 11/09). http://www.eigenhuis.nl.
61. VROM, 2007. New Energy for Climate Policy in the Netherlands, Summary of the 'Clean and Efficient' Programme. Available at: (accessed 06/09). http://www.eceee.org/MembersForum/Novem.
62. VROM Inspectie, 2010. Betrouwbaarheid van energielabels bij woningen: Herhalingsonderzoek. Available at: (accessed 01/10). http://www.vrominspectie.nl/.
63. Weiss C. Theory-based evaluation: past, present and future. New Directions for Evaluation 1997, 76:41-55.
64. Wilhite, H., Norgard, J., 2003. A case of self-deception in energy policy. In: Proceedings of the 2003 ECEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency, ECEEE, Paris, pp. 249-257.