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Papers by Dr Minna Sunikka-Blank

Building Research and Information, 2002

Sustainable Urban Areas 2, 2004

1.1 Why urban renewal as a focal point of sustainability? As in other European countries, the ren... more 1.1 Why urban renewal as a focal point of sustainability? As in other European countries, the renewal of postwar housing estates is a major policy issue in the Netherlands. The aim is to upgrade postwar neighbourhoods by means of demolition, the renovation of social rented housing and the construction of new owner-occupied dwellings. This process of renewal will pursue high targets and ambitions as it gets underway in the coming years. Not only will different parties have to work together in the complex area of renewal, they will also have to formulate policies and objectives for sustainability and development. Sustainability is a highly complex concept as it embraces a whole battery of interconnected social issues and uncertainties which are difficult to address. All in all, urban renewal will emerge as a major theme in the building sector in the years ahead. It will lead to major interventions in the housing stock and-at the same time-rigorously challenge the market players to make existing dwellings more environmentally-friendly and to develop sustainability in postwar housing. The existing housing stock is a key factor in attaining the greenhouse gas reduction targets in the Kyoto Protocol. The largest energy consumers are households and the tertiary sector (European Commission, 2001). In 2000 the CO 2 emissions from domestic energy consumption amounted to approximately 23 million tonnes in the Netherlands, representing 12% of all CO 2 emissions (CBS/RIVM, 1999; Crommentuijn & Verbeek, 1999). In the EU 1.9 million units of new housing are produced every year, amounting to 1% of the building stock (see Figure 1.1). Dwellings yet to be built will constitute 15% of the total housing stock in 2020 and 5-10% in the Kyoto period, 2008-2012 (NOVEM, 2002). This research project is intended as an introduction to sustainable urban renewal. By presenting two case studies it offers insight into the environmental policies of Dutch housing associations and municipalities. Focusing specifically on the role of performance agreements in realising sustainability ambitions, it also assesses the feasibility of CO 2 reductions and examines the costs and decision-making processes. Ever since the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Housing & the Environment (MVROM) presented its first Action Plan for Sustainable Building (Plan van Aanpak Duurzaam Bouwen) in 1995, a lot of energy has been invested in the introduction and implementation of sustainability in everyday design, building and management. Though a fair amount of experience has been gathered in the practical application of sustainability procedures in new building and urban expansion, hardly any has been gained in the improvement and reorganisation of housing estates. This will change in the next few years, when large-scale investments under the Major Cities Policy (Grotestedenbeleid, GSB) and the Investment Budget for Urban Renewal (Investeringsbudget 10. Performance category: sustainability Soil clean-up Sustainable building, sustainable urban development and energy saving in the built environment Water systems: management of water and water systems 9. Performance category: environmental quality Better greenery in the living environment and large-scale greenery in the city Water features Odour and noise nuisance Air pollution 11. Performance category: prudent land use Thin out (residential) areas Concentrate living/working areas, especially around urban transport nodes Multi-functional use of land (subterranean and high-rise) 8. Performance category: varied living environments Variation and differentiation in living environments with matching characteristics (type of dwelling, amenities, function mix, density) Flexible, adaptable building Realisation Architects Construction firms Project developers Estate agents Consultants, etc. Province Region Municipality Ministry of Spatial Planning, Housing & the Environment Other ministries Advisory bodies Residents Tenants Owner occupiers Umbrella organisations e.g. Aedes, VNG, NVM, Woonbond * Since the life cycle of installations is 15 years, the investment needs to be made twice during the 25-year life cycle of the dwelling. The second investment (i.e. after 15 years) takes account of an inflation rate of 2.9%

Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 09613210600660976, Feb 3, 2007

Open House International 28 4 11, 2003

What is the environmental potential of the existing housing stock in the EU and the accession cou... more What is the environmental potential of the existing housing stock in the EU and the accession countries? How prepared are the countries to face the challenge of the existing housing stock? This article describes policies and policy instruments currently used to encourage sustainable renovation in Europe based on the national progress reports of the 3 rd European Ministers conference on sustainable housing in Belgium in 2002. The research shows that policies and policy instruments focus on new construction. Sustainable renovation is encouraged, but not enforced: legislation applies to new construction and fiscal measures do not address environmental objectives in particular. An examination of policies since 1996 shows that, apart from the initiatives resulting from the Kyoto Protocol, the lack of a strong driving force has kept policy developments moderate. This article argues that current policies and policy instruments are not effective enough to take advantage of the environmental potential of the existing stock either in the EU or accession countries. Different strategies for the forefront, platoon and laggard countries are suggested.

Housing and Urban Policy Studies 19, 2001

European Environment 13 227 239, 2003

Although progressive government guidelines and knowledge about sustainable housing exist, progres... more Although progressive government guidelines and knowledge about sustainable housing exist, progress in implementing them in practice has been slow. The perceived costs and the lack of market demand have been identified as the main barriers. A choice of fiscal instruments is essential in sustainable housing policies. This article presents an analysis of economic measures currently used to support sustainable housing in the EU and the accession countries, indicating the areas where policy instruments are either focused or lacking. Based on the country progress reports of the Third European Ministers Conference on Sustainable Housing in Belgium in 2002, the results indicate that environmental taxes and subsidies are used in the EU and the accession countries, but that they have had a low impact on the housing sector. An examination of the developments since 1996 shows that apart from energy initiatives resulting from the Kyoto Protocol, the lack of a strong driving force has kept progress slow. Conclusions are based on the analysis findings-the low impact of taxation on housing, the lack of environmental criteria in the reduced VAT rate and the narrow focus of subsidies. This article argues that enlargement of the EU presents opportunities for sustainable housing in Europe, if the fiscal instruments are enforced by legal means.

In the Kyoto Protocol, governments of the industrialised countries agreed to reduce the total 199... more In the Kyoto Protocol, governments of the industrialised countries agreed to reduce the total 1990 level of CO 2 emissions by 5.2% between 2008 and 2012, thus increasing the pressure on governments to establish CO2-reducing strategies. The largest energy end-users in absolute terms are households and the tertiary sector (EC, 2001). In the EU new housing production is 1.9 million units per year, approximately 1% of the building stock, and dwellings yet to be built will constitute 15% of the total housing stock in 2020 and 5-10% of the total housing stock in the Kyoto period 2008-2012 (NOVEM, 2002). Consequently, according to the Kyoto agreements, the existing housing stock is an important sector in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The environment, however, continues to play only a small part in urban renewal projects (Bus, 2001). From an economic point of view, a fi rm or a household will invest in energy conservation up to the point where the costs no longer outweigh the financial...

Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 2005

In 2003 the European Commission introduced the EC Directive on the energy performance of building... more In 2003 the European Commission introduced the EC Directive on the energy performance of buildings in recognition of the importance of energy savings in the urban housing stock. The Directive gives the member states freedom to design the different elements in practice. The energy certificate for existing buildings demanded by the EC Directive can be used as a communicative instrument, or combined with economic or regulatory principles. The authors discuss the anticipated efficiency and effectiveness of different policy approaches in the application of the EC energy certificate for the urban housing stock. They argue that, although energy certificates as a communication instrument for household appliances have appeared to be relatively successful, the different nature of the building sector may mean that their effectiveness here will be rather limited. The combination of energy certificates with tax schemes seems promising, but will have to be coupled with general income taxes or in ...

Building Research & Information, 2006

Buildings belong to the most cost-effective sectors where carbon dioxide (CO 2) reductions can be... more Buildings belong to the most cost-effective sectors where carbon dioxide (CO 2) reductions can be achieved, and urban regeneration offers a good intervention point for switching to sustainable fuel sources, as changes in energy infrastructure can be coupled with other construction, thus decreasing the cost. However, the potential energy savings that are feasible do not match the more ambitious policy targets. Based on case studies in the Netherlands, obstacles are identified in the context of urban renewal that need to be overcome if energy efficiency measures are to be implemented and space heating replaced with low-carbon technologies. The current free-market public policy instruments have not managed to address the obstacles identified in the case studies due to poor market signals, costs and payback periods, risks, and a lack of leadership on environmental targets and policies on sustainable urban renewal. The potential for stronger government intervention is examined for the effectiveness in reducing both energy consumption and CO 2 generation. Legislation could produce a certain policy outcome in terms of CO 2 reduction in urban renewal in the Netherlands if compliance and legitimacy are ensured, but policy consideration is also required to account for the dilemma of lowincome households and the rebound effects associated with occupant behaviours.

This paper describes the outcomes of a survey of assessment methods for sustainable urban develop... more This paper describes the outcomes of a survey of assessment methods for sustainable urban development (SUD) undertaken by an international network called BEQUEST. It addresses aspects of good practice in terms of SUD, explores the range of methods available and explains ...