Financing Energy Efficient Homes: Existing Policy Responses to Financial Barriers

This study focuses on barriers to more efficient buildings, traditional financial solutions, and evaluations of financial policies related to grants, fiscal measures, loans, energy service companies (ESCOs), revolving funds, and white certificates. It identifies four policy lessons: both public and private sector finance is needed to overcome financial barriers; packages of multiple policies have proven much more effective than single measures over the long-term; lasting changes will only come through the creation of a market for energy efficiency; and strong political will is required to pave the way for private investors.