A0907
Title: On energy labels for dwellings and retrofitting: Some evidence from the English energy performance certificate
Authors: Mirko Moro - University of Stirling (United Kingdom) [presenting]
Abstract: How to induce households to install energy efficient technology remains a puzzle. Could an energy labelling requirement for residential real estate help? We propose that the salient color-letter grades on the English Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) served as targets, motivating vendors to invest in energy efficiency. In the post-requirement years we find a cluster of homes with energy efficiency scores just above the D-grade threshold. This cluster was not present prior to the requirement, replicates in an independently-drawn representative sample, is largest for homes that had been on the market since implementation of the requirement. We conclude that the EPC requirement induced investment, and hence that energy efficiency labels have potential to green the housing stock. We infer from our analysis how the design of the EPC could be altered to motivate greater investment in energy efficiency.
