Transcript Urban growth and Urban planning

Berkeley Conference on Green
Building, The Economy, and Public
Policy
December 2-3,2009
Panel discussion on research issues
Bjorn Harsman, KTH, Stockholm
Do green buildings add up to green cities?
• S Sheppard (2008): The expected ”volume” of new cities
and urban neighborhoods over the next 30 years
correspond to the present built environment accumulated
during 3000 years
• P Newton et al (1997): Reports considerable ”short run”
air quality differences between alternative scenarios of
future urban forms
• Glaeser and Kahn (2009): Some US cities emit more
CO2 than others; land use restriction may increase
emissions
• Research: Extend SS´s approach by adding data on
energy consumption, emissions, air pollution and urban
form
CO2-emissions per GDP and per
capita in EU and OECD 2005
EU: strong ambitions and ….
• The 20/20/20 plan (27 countries, 491
million people ) : Cut greenhouse gas
emissions by 20% (from the 1990 levels),
increase renewable energy usage by 20%
and cut energy consumption through
improved energy efficiency by 20%
• …strong believe in regulations
Examples of directives and action
plans initiated since 2000
Energy performance of buildings directive
Eco-design of energy-using products directive
Directive on promotion of energy use from renewable
resources
Energy end-use, efficiency and energy services directive
Environmental technologies action plan
….
Research: the balance between adminstratively and market
oriented policy measures in different sectors in different
countries? The role played by constitutions/traditions,
dominating expert knowledge, NGO´s, level of income,
etc
Housing consumption expenditure
in Sweden, million SEK, fixed price
Year
Energy
use in
per cent
1000´s
of
housing
units
1994
Housing Out of
consump which
tion
electricit
y, gas
and fuels
286 200 55 700
19,5%
2 304
2000
291 900
52 800
18,1%
2 331
2006
302 600
49 200
16,3%
2 417
Development of energy prices
Prices and taxes for housing
electricy 0.01 SEK/kWh, current
prices
Year
Price of
energy
Taxes
Total
price
Taxes in
percent
1994
39,7
20,9
60,6
34,4%
2000
42,6
30,9
73,5
42,0%
2006
71,1
50,9
122,0
41,7%
Compare administrative/regulative
measures and price measures
• Energy savings
• Rate of innovation in energy saving
techonologies
• Costs including rent seeking behavior
Design of environmental
performance certificates?
• The Swedish environmental rating tool currently
being implemented was jointly developed by the
government, stakeholders and researchers
• It covers fewer assessment areas and fewer
indicators of ”potentials” than BREEAM, LEED
and Green Star. Low rating of one area can not
be compensated by high ratings in another
• Will different systems result in different energy
saving and rent effects? Is it meaningful to look
for optimal performance certificates? Will a
global standard emerge?
Information to users
• KTH, a real estate company and the Sthlm city is
currently planning a series of information
experiments
• Office employes will be offered daily information
on their energy consumption in the office and
when travelling
• The purpose is to find out if and to what extent
energy consumption (and modal choice) is
affected by different kinds of information
How green is green?
• Fölster and Nyström (2009): energy saving
estimates should take account of potential
behavioral responses/rebound effects
• Initial energy savings of 20% in transport
and heating eventually led to increased
carbon emissions with 5 %
• Research: ??