Energy efficiency services for residential buildings: market situation and existing potentials in the European Union

Energy performance contracting (EPC): a suitable mechanism for achieving energy savings in housing cooperatives? Results from a Norwegian pilot project

“…Because rehabilitation, comfort and aesthetics were important to the residents, we concur with one of the Board members who said when the process had been terminated: BWe would have been more likely to succeed had we presented this to the residents as 'a refurbishment project with an EPC component' rather than an EPC project^. Comprehensive refurbishment, thus projects which are broad in scope, is also what may ensure the highest outcomes in terms of energy savings (Bleyl-Androschin et al 2009), as shown in successful EPC projects in multi-apartment buildings that have renovated the building structure, improved indoor air quality and so forth (Milin and Bullier 2011;Grosser Lagos et al 2015;Labanca et al 2015) In hindsight, it is clear that the pilot's strict competition criteria which solely focused on energy savings did not serve the overall process well. The tender bidding did enhance competition, but the expectation that this would also enhance simplicity and allow the ESCO to help develop and expand the project further was not realised.…”

“…public procurement frameworks) can play a vital role in helping clients identify EPC projects prior to going to tender (Bleyl et al 2013;Nolden and Sorrell 2016). Observers have noted that EPC may also be suitable for projects that go beyond mere energy saving targets and involve comprehensive refurbishment (Bleyl-Androschin and Daniel 2008;Bleyl-Androschin et al 2009;Milin and Bullier 2011;Grosser Lagos et al 2015;Labanca et al 2015). In such cases, the level of investment may exceed the saved energy costs that are possible to obtain within a project's lifetime, whereas longterm energy use may be reduced and other positive effects may be achieved (e.g.…”

“…The EPC arrangement has primarily been used in the public and commercial sectors and not among households (Vine 2005;Hoyle 2013:19, Satchwell et al 2010Bertoldi et al 2014),though some case studies have been conducted (for a review, see Labanca et al 2015). Observers have noted 7 The study was published as a book, which also treats a range of barriers to EPC: ESCOs around the world.…”

“…As solutions to these barriers to EPC in the residential sector, it has been suggested to focus on information, technology and motivation to change consumption patterns (Hoyle 2013), introduce policy measures that increase people's trust in EPC and ESCOs (Labanca et al 2015) and focus on the role of project facilitators (Bleyl et al 2013;Nolden and Sorrell 2016). Moreover, Bleyl-Androschin et al (2009:996), focusing on the German market, propose that energy savings in the residential sector can most effectively be reached through projects that include refurbishment: 'Additional efficiency potentials of typically 20-50 % can only be tapped, if building technologies, building envelope (building insulation, improved glazing) and targeting user behaviour are integrated into energy service schemes.'…”

“…Also in European and Asian countries, the EPC market has been growing although at a slower rate and with great variation between countries (Bertoldi et al 2006;Bleyl et al 2013;Zhang et al 2015;Nolden and Sorrell 2016;Labanca et al 2015). Reflecting the increasing faith in EPC in the European Union, member states have since 2003 been required to implement performance-based energy regulations (European Commission, 2003 MB, found in Guerra-Santin andItard 2012), and a Code of Conduct was launched in 2015.…”