RELEVANCE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AMONG HOUSING ARCHITECTURAL ATTRIBUTES

Abstract

This paper aims at identifying the relative importance of energy performance regarding other architectural attributes in home selection. In doing so, a survey based on choice experiments, in the framework of the random utility theory, is carried out. Results suggest that energy efficiency, measured using Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), is a differentiating element in the residential preferences. Perhaps, the large importance found in relation to other home’s attributes originates from the fact that respondents were informed using easy-to-understand units on the economic, environmental and production cost implications of energy efficiency. However, such an importance seems to be linked to respondents’ education attaintment, knowledge on the EPC scheme, income and dissatisfaction with their present home’s energy performance. The larger such dimensions, the larger the importance of energy efficiency in home selection. Furthermore, the interaction between conditioning systems and energy performance suggest that there is a room for passive conditioning systems. Such conclusions, have large implications for the architectural design as well as housing and energy public policy.

Keywords: Energy performance certificates, energy ratings, home preferences, choice experiments