Existing buildings – users, renovations and policy

This paper deals with the energy consumption of existing owner-occupied detached houses and the question of how they can be energy renovated. Data on the age of the Danish housing stock, and its energy consumption is presented. Research on the potential for energy reductions in the Danish housing sector is presented, and it is shown that there is a huge potential for reductions. It is a well-known problem that even if there are relevant technical means, and even if it is economically feasible, the majority of house owners do not energy renovate their homes. This paper intends to address what can be done with this problem. The paper draws on different sources of why, when, how, and why not people renovate their home. These results are then compared and discussed together with a presentation and discussion of the Danish policy measures that are put forward in order to encourage people to energy renovate their home. These policy measures include building regulations, energy tax and different types of incentives and information dissemination. The conclusion calls for new innovative policy measures to cope with the realities of energy renovations of owner-occupied houses.