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The Regional Governance of Energy-Neutral Housing: Toward a Framework for Analysis

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  • Laura De Leeuw

    (Tilburg Center for Regional Law and Governance, Tilburg Institute of Governance, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands)

  • Martijn Groenleer

    (Tilburg Center for Regional Law and Governance, Tilburg Institute of Governance, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Regions are expected to play a key role in realizing international, European, and national climate and energy goals. Also regions in the Netherlands are working toward these goals, taking initiatives toward an energy-neutral built environment by 2050. However, it remains unclear how such efforts and other socially innovative activities can best be described and how variation between them in terms of governance can be explained. In this article, we develop a framework for analyzing the governance of regional energy-neutral housing initiatives. We ask what factors shape regional climate and energy governance, particularly regional efforts to increase the efficiency of urban dwellings. We answer this question using a subnational comparative method and a most similar case design, focusing on three Dutch regions: Utrecht, Noord-Brabant and Drenthe. Based on document analysis and 24 semi-structured interviews, we find that the regional governance of energy-neutral housing initiatives is primarily driven by existing social networks in the regions, and less determined by local characteristics of the built environment. Thus, regional governance seems to have generated solutions that are supported by regional actors. Nonetheless, as these solutions are not entirely tailored to the regional situation, functionally speaking, a key question for future research is how effective these solutions will be.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura De Leeuw & Martijn Groenleer, 2018. "The Regional Governance of Energy-Neutral Housing: Toward a Framework for Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:10:p:3726-:d:176148
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    1. Thomas Hoppe & Gerdien De Vries, 2018. "Social Innovation and the Energy Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Wim Lambrechts & Andrew Mitchell & Mark Lemon & Muhammad Usman Mazhar & Ward Ooms & Rikkert van Heerde, 2021. "The Transition of Dutch Social Housing Corporations to Sustainable Business Models for New Buildings and Retrofits," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-24, January.
    3. Thomas Hoppe & Michiel Miedema, 2020. "A Governance Approach to Regional Energy Transition: Meaning, Conceptualization and Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-28, January.
    4. Catalin Popescu & Eglantina Hysa & Alba Kruja & Egla Mansi, 2022. "Social Innovation, Circularity and Energy Transition for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Practices—A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-28, November.

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