The effectiveness of codes and marketing in promoting energy-efficient home construction

Title: The effectiveness of codes and marketing in promoting energy-efficient home construction
Format: Journal Article
Publication Date: 1993
Published In: Energy Policy
Description: This paper assesses the relative effectiveness of codes and marketing as alternative approaches to promoting energy-efficient new homes. Insights are drawn primarily from the experiences of a code and a marketing programme operated in the Pacific Northwest. The penetration rates of the two programmes are similar, as are the energy savings and costs. However, other aspects of the two programmes are quite distinct. Compared to the code programme, participants in the marketing programme tend to be more affluent and include more free riders as a result of the self-selection bias associated with voluntary participation. The marketing programme has also had greater geographic coverage, and as a result more widespread impact on region-wide building practices. Levels of involvement of utilities and code officials and impacts on fuel switching also differ. Bonneville has shown that by operating both programmes in tandem, the shortfalls of one approach can be partly compensated by the strengths of the other. © 1993.
Ivan Allen College Contributors:
Citation: Energy Policy. 21. Issue 4. 391 - 402. ISSN 0301-4215. DOI 10.1016/0301-4215(93)90279-O.
Related Departments:
  • Climate and Energy Policy Laboratory
  • School of Public Policy