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The Uneven Price Impact of Energy Efficiency Ratings on Housing Segments. Implications for Public Policy and Private Markets

Author

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  • Carlos Marmolejo-Duarte

    (Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Barcelona, Centre de Política de Sòl i Valoracions, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Ai Chen

    (Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Barcelona, Centre de Política de Sòl i Valoracions, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

In the literature, there is extensive, although in some cases inconclusive, evidence on the impact of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) on housing prices. Nonetheless, the question of whether such an impact is homogenous across residential segments remains highly unexplored. This paper addresses this latter issue utilizing multifamily listing data in metropolitan Barcelona. In doing so, first the entire sample is analyzed using a hedonic model. Second, the sample is split on the basis of a multivariate segmentation. Finally, separated hedonic models are specified again. The results suggest that in general, there is a modest impact of EPC ratings on listing prices, nonetheless it is not homogeneous across housing segments: (1) for the most modern apartments, with state-of-the-art features and active environmental comfort, energy ratings seem to play a null role in the formation of prices; (2) conversely, for the cheapest apartments, apartments boasting the most basic features, and apartments located in low-income areas, the “brown discount” is enormously significant, potentially depreciating the equity of those who have the least resources to carry out an energy retrofit. These results have implications for the assessment of the EPBD and its Spanish transposition, since a very well-intentioned environmental policy could have potentially harmful social repercussions in the absence of corrective measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos Marmolejo-Duarte & Ai Chen, 2019. "The Uneven Price Impact of Energy Efficiency Ratings on Housing Segments. Implications for Public Policy and Private Markets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-23, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:2:p:372-:d:197238
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kenneth Gillingham & Karen Palmer, 2014. "Bridging the Energy Efficiency Gap: Policy Insights from Economic Theory and Empirical Evidence," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 8(1), pages 18-38, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jon Olaf Olaussen & Are Oust & Jan Tore Solstad & Lena Kristiansen, 2019. "Energy Performance Certificates—The Role of the Energy Price," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Marmolejo-Duarte, Carlos & Chen, Ai, 2022. "Uncovering the price effect of energy performance certificate ratings when controlling for residential quality," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    3. Alice Barreca & Elena Fregonara & Diana Rolando, 2021. "EPC Labels and Building Features: Spatial Implications over Housing Prices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Adriano Bisello, 2020. "Assessing Multiple Benefits of Housing Regeneration and Smart City Development: The European Project SINFONIA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-28, September.
    5. Dong Hyun Kim & Amina Irakoze, 2022. "Identifying Market Segment for the Assessment of a Price Premium for Green Certified Housing: A Cluster Analysis Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Jussi Vimpari, 2020. "Financing Energy Transition with Real Estate Wealth," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-10, August.
    7. Federico Dell’Anna & Marina Bravi & Carlos Marmolejo-Duarte & Marta Carla Bottero & Ai Chen, 2019. "EPC Green Premium in Two Different European Climate Zones: A Comparative Study between Barcelona and Turin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-21, October.
    8. Felipe Encinas & Carlos Marmolejo-Duarte & Carlos Aguirre-Nuñez & Francisco Vergara-Perucich, 2020. "When Residential Energy Labeling Becomes Irrelevant: Sustainability vs. Profitability in the Liberalized Chilean Property Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-17, November.

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