08.06.2014 Views

Territorial Review Copenhagen - Region Hovedstaden

Territorial Review Copenhagen - Region Hovedstaden

Territorial Review Copenhagen - Region Hovedstaden

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

178<br />

them from implementing more progressive designs. This is especially the<br />

case for developers that shy away from designs that use geo-thermal heating,<br />

green roofs, recycled water and more environmental ventilation systems.<br />

Given the old housing stock in the <strong>Copenhagen</strong> metropolitan region,<br />

resources are also needed for renovating and retrofitting mixed-income<br />

housing with state-of-the-art environmental and energy design features,<br />

especially weatherisation improvements. Municipalities in the <strong>Copenhagen</strong><br />

metropolitan region might consider requiring insulation tests for<br />

rehabilitated stock, which are obligatory for new homes in the United<br />

Kingdom (Energy Savings Trust, 2007). Finally, local governments could<br />

mandate that new social housing upgrade its environmental criteria by<br />

requiring social housing to abide by high green-building standards. Boston,<br />

for example, greened its affordable housing programme by requiring that<br />

any affordable housing development that receives government support is<br />

certifiable at the ―silver‖ level by the US Green Building Council‘s<br />

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. To assist<br />

developers, Massachusetts has offered funding to help developers comply<br />

with these standards. Through a similar initiative, municipalities could<br />

showcase their environmental commitment through affordable housing<br />

development.<br />

Future challenges for the <strong>Copenhagen</strong> metropolitan region<br />

<strong>Copenhagen</strong>‘s population will grow in the next few years. The Øresund<br />

<strong>Region</strong> forecasts predict a growth of 152 000 people in the Swedish side and<br />

75 000 people in the Danish side by 2020 (Statistics Denmark, 2008; <strong>Region</strong><br />

Skåne, 2007). If the <strong>Copenhagen</strong> metropolitan region is to remain a diverse<br />

area with homes for everyone, there will be a need for changes in legislation<br />

that will allow the city to facilitate the development of new housing. Urban<br />

renewal will be critical given the mandate to renovate and modernise the<br />

city‘s old housing stock. The social division of the city will continue to be<br />

one of the greatest challenges faced by the region. Its resolution will require<br />

changes in legislation that will allow the municipalities in the Capital<br />

<strong>Region</strong> to better assist socially disadvantaged groups and distressed<br />

neighborhoods.<br />

2.7.2 Environmental policy and sustainability initiatives<br />

<strong>Copenhagen</strong>‘s environmental policy has solidified its reputation as one<br />

of the ―greenest‖ cities in the world. Since 1990, <strong>Copenhagen</strong>ers have<br />

reduced their CO 2 emissions by 25%, primarily as a result of the operation<br />

of the use of cleaner fuels and the efficiency of its district heating system.<br />

Equally impressive, 90% of building waste is reused and 34% of

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!