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Meet IIIEE researcher Bernadett Kiss

Bernadett Kiss
"When actors in the private sector see the economic advantages in energy savings they are willing to adjust their ways of operating so as to benefit not only business, but society as a whole", says IIIEE researcher Bernadett Kiss.

Urban Transition Öresund: Comparison of cost models supports retrofitting

 

Copenhagen city is one of many European cities in need of energy retrofitting for its many older apartment buildings. But the related high costs tend to slow down the work. With IIIEE researchers contribution on knowledge of the pros and cons of different financing models, Copenhagen is advancing its work.

Most European cities have a large share of older residential buildings in increasing need of renovation. Today, the interest of governments and cities lies in sustainable renovation, which often manifests inincreasing demands on the operating private housing and construction sector. Property owners, however, are not always able to or willing to finance energy-efficient renovation, since the economic risks are often considered too large. 

– The answer to this dilemma can be met through different financing models, developed in cooperation between the cities and the private sector with the common aim of overcoming financial barriers to energy-efficient renovations. The private sector is crucial for success in this matter. As soon as they see the economic advantages in energy savings, they are willing to adjust their decisions and ways of operating so as to benefit not only business, but society as a whole, says Bernadett Kiss, IIIEE researcher with special interest in energy efficiency, policy assessment, buildings and cities.

In one of the Urban Transition Öresund projects, researchers have compared and evaluated existing financing models with the aim of providing the participating cities with useful knowledge in their striving for energy-efficient renovation. 

– We strive not only to know how effective the financial instruments are, but more specifically to understand their economic, ecological and social impacts, says Bernadett Kiss.

The city of Copenhagen was one of the major stakeholders of the project.

– Lund University has contributed by compiling international experiences from financing energy renovations, analysing methods of funding as well as evaluating the applicability in a regional perspective, says Annette Egetoft from the Department of Technology and Environment at Copenhagen Municipality.

– The processing of this knowledge has been of major importance for Copenhagen, since we as a city need to find new ways to promote energy retrofitting on a large scale, concludes Annette Egetoft.    

Text and photo: Sara Bernstrup Nilsson

 

Urban Transition Öresund:

  • IIIEE researchers: Lena NeijNora SmedbyÅke ThidellBernadett KissKes McCormick
  • Project time: 2011–2014
  • Budget: EUR 2.7 million  
  • Funding agencies: EU grant from the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg IVA programme.
  • Partners: The municipalities of Lund, Malmö, Copenhagen, Ballerup and Roskilde, Lund University, LU Open, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Malmö University, Roskilde University and Aalborg University Copenhagen.
  • Further info: Urban Transition Website

 

Related reading: IIIEE Research on Urban Transition Öresund