Joost Backer
Article
Reading time:
11 min.
By Joost Backer, December 2021
Like many countries, the Netherlands faces the task to make hundreds of thousands of homes more sustainable by 2030. NewForesight and Squarewise investigated how this transition can be accelerated by focusing on so-called ‘caretakers’ (ontzorgers). Here are their main recommendations, complemented by 3 key lessons for built environment policymakers around the world.
The context
By 2030, the Netherlands must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 49% (116 Megaton, or 116,000,000,000 kg) compared to 1990. For the ‘built environment’ (including offices, houses) this means it must reduce its emissions by 3.4 Megaton. To reach this goal, the Dutch government has set itself the goal to make at least 1.5 million homes more sustainable by 2030. [1]
To speed up this transition, more and more so-called ‘caretakers’ (ontzorgers) have mushroomed across the Netherlands, from only a few in to dozens in 2021. These caretakers are private and semi-public parties that help home-owners take measures to make their house more sustainable. Examples of these measures are wall insulation, double- or triple-glazed windows, or alternative energy sources such as an electric heat pump. Caretakers offer services ranging from practical installation to advice on government subsidies and policies, and from financial advice to ‘one-stop-shop’ coordination of the entire transition journey.
The assignment
The Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations commissioned market transformation expert NewForesight and energy transition specialist Squarewise to investigate the question: What can stakeholders do on which moments, to develop an effective caretakers-market and accelerate the transition towards more sustainable housing?
The report (click here to download the full report, in Dutch) sets out 4 action perspectives for the national government, municipalities, companies, investors and other stakeholders that contribute to an effective caretakers-market.
Mentions of buildings across all countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions
3 Lessons every country should consider in its built environment transition:
The transition towards more sustainable housing is a concern in any country: in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, most countries (with notable exceptions such as Brazil and Australia) mention buildings (including housing), ranging from adaptation to energy efficiency measures (see figure above).
Although each country context is specific, certain laws of systemic change apply universally. Here are three 3 lessons for any policymaker or transition strategist:
Are you a policymaker or transition strategist and do you want to accelerate the transition in your country? NewForesight has wide experience with sustainable market transformation in the built environment. Contact Joost Backer via Linkedin or email (joost.backer@newforesight.com) to explore how we can help you.
Click here to download the full report Op weg naar een effectieve ontzorgingsmarkt (in Dutch).
[1] Klimaatakkoord (2019) C Afspraken in sectoren, C1 Gebouwde omgeving, link
Privacy & Data Retention Policy
Realisatie: Yonit - Copyright © 2019