housing developments in european countries - Department of ...

Section 3
Policies
Policies Section 3
In Cyprus there has been increasing government
through technology, research and development
of housing for rental usage and social occupation has
education and promotion programmes, in partnership
interest in sustainable construction methods and
programmes. The most extensive experimental
been introduced. The sustainability of newly built
with retailers, which aim to reduce energy usage.
techniques. However, due to the high costs involved
construction area is at Viikki in Helsinki. Throughout
dwellings will also be improved by the above-
and a lack of sufficient research, no significant
this area, a set of ecological criteria is being applied.
mentioned work in relation to the classification of
In Italy, the most significant projects in the field of
progress has been made. Therefore, good practice in
These criteria direct town planning, building land
building products and the action plans also envisage
sustainable housing construction currently underway
Cyprus is limited to small, private developments and
transfer, construction, planning and permit procedures
that the use of energy-efficient building technology and
are those aimed at energy conservation, hydro-thermal
restoration projects. The Cypriot Government intends
and also stipulate minimum values for pollution, use of
heating appliances will be promoted by increasing the
comfort, acoustic requisites and quality aesthetics. For
to remove barriers to sustainable construction through
natural resources, health, natural diversity and nutrient
market share in high-performance heating appliances
example, phyto-purification plants for wastewater,
the establishment of a University Research Centre, the
productivity. In addition, they are used as evaluation
and other devices that reduce energy and resource use.
CHP (combined heat and power) generation plants and
adoption of financial incentives including tax relief for
criteria for other land owned by the City of Helsinki
district heating are planned. Less toxic materials and
sustainable construction, and the reinforcement of
and are currently being developed into an
The introduction of the energy conservation
adherence to bio-architectural principles have been
existing relevant policies.
environmental classification system for buildings
regulations in Germany has meant that the existing
used more frequently in recent years in new housing
covering the entire construction industry. In terms of
regulations relevant to this issue were updated and
developments.
The Government of the Czech Republic has put in
construction products, an environmental specification
synthesised with a view to creating a holistic set of
place a number of initiatives that address various
has been developed for reporting on their
incentives for energy conservation. The German
Latvia has embarked on a programme of thermal
aspects of housing sustainability. Due to the limited
environmental impacts and on the energy conservation
Government plans to use the latest energy-efficient
modernisation of its housing stock, with the objective
availability of funding, there are no ongoing
issue, and a number of business sectors have made
building technologies in order to support new
being a reduction in energy usage and the associated
programmes to provide financial incentives for housing
agreements with government ministries and with
regulations aimed at combating climate change. In
monetary costs. Heating savings equivalent to 2,048
developments that attain outstanding energy savings or
MOTIVA Oy, an independent organisation established
addition, financial assistance is being made available in
GWh per year are being achieved annually, equating to
use renewable sources of energy. However, the
to promote energy conservation. The construction of
order to promote the implementation of these
a 100% saving in energy usage.
Ministry for Regional Development is working in
energy-saving dwellings is being promoted through a
regulations and pertinent information is conveyed to
co-operation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade
low-energy competition and voluntary agreements on
the public via targeted information campaigns and
Energy efficiency has also played a central role in the
and the Ministry of Environment in an effort to create
conservation in housing are being negotiated.
initiatives.
modernisation of Lithuanian housing. The Energy
conditions in existing and upcoming programmes to
Furthermore, the Ministry of the Environment has
Efficiency/Housing Pilot Project was started in 1996,
ensure that desirable energy savings are attained. All
adopted the use of energy grants for renovating
As mentioned in Section 2 of this report, the housing
on the initiative of the Lithuanian Government and the
new construction programmes must comply with a
residential buildings, as an economic instrument, to
stock in Ireland is comparatively young in European
World Bank. As part of this project, over 400 multi-
new regulation regarding energy efficiency and heat
reduce energy consumption in existing high-rise
terms, and as a result, a significant proportion of
family apartment buildings in Lithuania have been
consumption in buildings. In addition, a project is
buildings.
dwellings has been built to modern high standards of
renovated with a particular focus on the
currently underway in the Susice district which aims to
thermal efficiency. The National Survey of Housing
implementation of energy-efficiency measures. Over
demonstrate how low-energy, low-cost housing can be
The French Government established a national strategy
Quality 2001-02 indicates that 69% of Irish dwellings
500 Homeowner Associations have implemented
developed. This project is funded by the United
for sustainable development in 2003. This strategy
have double-glazing, 76% have wall insulation, 78%
renovation schemes as part of the project and private
Nations Development Programme.
contains a range of measures and sub-measures aimed
have insulated their water heating cylinder and 85%
owner-occupiers are also investing in refurbishment.
at identifying the appropriate direction to be adopted
have central heating. The Residential Density
Lithuania is in the process of implementing EU
In terms of sustainable housing in Denmark, the policy
in reducing energy usage and waste production and
Guidelines, published by the Department of the
requirements on urban wastewater treatment and the
priority is the development of showcase projects to
implementing a set of policies to achieve these goals.
Environment, Heritage and Local Government in
sale of toxic and dangerous construction products will
demonstrate innovative approaches to building design
To facilitate the strategy, a series of action plans have
1999, promote the use of higher density housing
be restricted to protect public health. To achieve this
based on ecological principles. Three such projects
been prepared. Increasing the level of restoration of old
developments in appropriate locations. These
aim, an evaluation programme for construction
have been completed under the ECO-HOUSE 99
buildings is a priority measure. The key agencies
guidelines are intended to ensure that housing needs
products has been established.
initiative and are currently being evaluated. The
involved in this type of activity are l’ADME and
are met in the most sustainable manner possible by
National Agency for Enterprise and Housing, in
Centre Technique et Scientifique du Bâtiment. They are
securing the most effective use of scarce and expensive
The Luxembourg authorities have developed a housing
collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, is
responsible for classifying the performance of products
serviced land. In addition, the National Spatial
report card system for dwellings built over 15 years
currently preparing a labelling scheme concerning
to gradually substitute existing materials and
Strategy 2002-2020 stipulates that housing needs
and expert recommendations based on the report card
building products and their impact on the
equipment with those of a more sustainable nature.
which arise in urban areas should, as far as possible,
determines the allocation of State aid for the
environment.
The restoration of the social housing stock is also a
be met within urban areas or through well-planned
renovation and rehabilitation of housing. State aid has
priority measure under this action plan; in order to
extensions to urban areas. Finally, the Government’s
also been made available to promote the rational use
In Finland, sustainable construction is being achieved
achieve this objective an incentive for the improvement
agency Sustainable Energy Ireland is developing
of energy and the development of renewable sources.
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Regular National Report on Housing Developments in European Countries
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