Energy Efficiency Obligation in The Netherlands: Can the implementation be improved?

Abstract

On European as well as national levels, governments have committed to mitigate CO2 emissions, among others by means of energy efficiency strategies. However, what happens when these strategies are implemented? This research aims to analyze barriers and opportunities for the implementation of sustainability legislation, and to generate recommendations for improved implementation. It does so by using an evaluative framework. This framework combined the Institutional Framework for Policy Analysis and Design (Polski & Ostrom, 1999) with the framework on indicators for policy implementation of Sabatier and Mazmanian (1980). The framework was used to analyze the case study of the energy efficiency obligation in the Netherlands. This legislation was implemented in 1993, and has been adapted throughout the years. It therefore provides an interesting case for assessing implementation and its effect on policy outcomes. The main research question was: How is the energy energy efficiency obligation of the environmental law articles 2.14c and 2.15 implemented in The Netherlands, and what are the barriers and opportunities for improved implementation? A literature review was executed and twenty interviews with officials from the national government, municipalities, and environmental offices were conducted. Using the newly created framework, the policy goals were assessed. Subsequently, the implementation indicators were assessed. By comparing policy goals to policy outcomes, and assessing how implementation indicators contribute to the outcomes, an evaluation of implementation could be made. The key implementation variables that were found include the operationalization of policy, the relation between the scale of the policy problem and the government level responsible for implementation, and the way a policy is funded. Recommendations include providing additional and structural funding for energy efficiency law enforcement. Additionally, either the role of municipalities in the execution of the legislation should be limited, or the municipalities should work closer together with the environmental offices. This depends on the way that the legislation evolves in the coming years.