Making Homes Part of the Climate Solution: Policy Options To Promote Energy Efficiency

Abstract

Note: Some activities fit into more than one category, so the total count exceeds the total number of identified deployment activities addressing buildings.

Examining Sustainable Development Policy in California Cities: 2011 Energy Sustainable California Communities Survey

“…Sustainable development policy provides cities with various benefits. A city with a sustainable development policy can plan land-use to promote energy efficiency in new development and redevelopment projects which can reduce green-house gas emissions and improve air quality (Brown et al 2009). Also, having a sustainable development policy can help a city gain a green reputation and attract green and high-tech industries which can, in turn, increase employment opportunities for local communities and the local tax base (Portney 2005;Krause 2011).…”

“…Therefore, the current trend for cities is to try to attract green industries to their community instead of manufacturing ones. Attracting green industries has little negative impact on the local environment, and at the same time, it provides various benefits for citizens and local governments (Brown et al 2009;Krause 2010). It seems that many cities are interested in attracting green industries in order to simultaneously improve the financial and environmental performance of their city by providing greater job opportunities with little negative impact on the environment.…”

“…A city facing high unemployment would be more likely to opt for any kind of economic development they can get, while cities with lower unemployment may have the luxury of preferring sustainable development. Local fiscal conditions, such as availability of funds, may determine if a city pursues sustainable development policy because sustainable development requires higher up-front financial investment and may be more expensive to maintain than traditional energy systems (Victor 2004: p. xii;Rabe 2008;Brown et al 2009). In addition, since sustainability programs conserve non-excludable common resources (e.g., air, water, and carbon energy sources) and their benefits to the city diffuse to free-riding neighboring jurisdictions, cities are less motivated to voluntarily commit to these programs (Olson 1965;Hardin 1978;Krause 2011).…”

Examining Sustainable Development Policy in California Cities: 2011 Energy Sustainable California Communities Survey

“…Sustainable development policy provides cities with various benefits. A city with a sustainable development policy can plan land-use to promote energy efficiency in new development and redevelopment projects which can reduce green-house gas emissions and improve air quality (Brown et al 2009). Also, having a sustainable development policy can help a city gain a green reputation and attract green and high-tech industries which can, in turn, increase employment opportunities for local communities and the local tax base (Portney 2005;Krause 2011).…”

“…A city facing high unemployment would be more likely to opt for any kind of economic development they can get, while cities with lower unemployment may have the luxury of preferring sustainable development. Local fiscal conditions, such as availability of funds, may determine if a city pursues sustainable development policy because sustainable development requires higher up-front financial investment and may be more expensive to maintain than traditional energy systems (Victor 2004: p. xii;Rabe 2008;Brown et al 2009). In addition, since sustainability programs conserve non-excludable common resources (e.g., air, water, and carbon energy sources) and their benefits to the city diffuse to free-riding neighboring jurisdictions, cities are less motivated to voluntarily commit to these programs (Olson 1965;Hardin 1978;Krause 2011).…”