A Legacy of Energy Saving: The Discussion on Heritage Values in the First Programme on Energy Efficiency in Buildings in Sweden, c. 1974–1984

Abstract

The paper analyses the 'energy savings plan for existing buildings' (EBB) introduced in Sweden after the first oil crisis of 1973, and how effects of policies on the built heritage were perceived and communicated to a wider public. A conflict between conservation aims and energy efficiency was constructed for the first time in Sweden. The programme was a huge investment made by the government to reduce the import of oil. At first, little consideration was taken to the fact that heritage values might be at risk when giving property owners financial incentives to retrofit their houses. Soon increasing knowledge about the existing building stock showed that older houses were not necessarily energy inefficient. An information campaign launched by protagonists of building conservation encouraged property owners to direct measures to the interiors of buildings, thus saving the exterior character of not just single buildings but also complete neighbourhoods. Towards the end of EBB, the field of conservation had become a more articulated voice when it came to influencing measures aiming at increased energy efficiency. Finally, the paper discusses how values constituted in the 1970s affect policy and practice today.

Energy policy and conservation planning in Sweden: a longitudinal evaluation

“…Our own research shows, however, that in recent history, conservation interests has been pitted against the goals of increased energy efficiency (Legn er and Leijonhufvud, 2019). In Sweden, building conservation has had to step aside for policies ultimately designed to boost IJBPA 38,4 the level of employment in the building sector and to upgrade the housing stock (Tunefalk and Legn er, 2019a).…”

Long-term effects of additional insulation of building façades in Sweden

“…Our own previous studies of Swedish energy efficiency policies have concluded that EBB and ROT had a significant impact on heritage values in the built environment, while at the same time resulting in empirically based knowledge of the built environment in Sweden that previously had been missing (Legneŕ and Leijonhufvud, 2019;Tunefalk and Legneŕ, 2019). These studies have also demonstrated how the rationale for large energy-saving programmes changed over time from a reduced import of oil, via less dependency on nuclear power, to financial stimulations of the building sector, and in later years a mitigation of climate change.…”

“…Starting in 1975, up to 35 per cent of the cost for energy retrofits could be subsidised, with an additional possibility of lending 65 per cent of the total cost of improvements. This made it possible for property owners to fund the whole investment using governmental grants and loans (Legneŕ and Leijonhufvud, 2019). These early subsides were part of the national programme EBB and included measures such as new windows, conversion to electric heating and additional insulation.…”

“…Introduced in the wake of the global oil crisis in 1973, loans and subsidies for installing additional façade insulation were provided in large scale to property owners until the early 1990s. First included in the national programme “Energy savings plan for existing buildings” ( Energisparplan för befintlig bebyggelse, hence abbreviated EBB), instruments encouraging additional façade insulations were then transferred to the home improvement programme ROT (an acronym for the Swedish words for renovation, refurbishment and extension) (Legnér and Leijonhufvud, 2019; Tunefalk and Legnér, 2019). Most likely, these two long-lasting programmes had an important role in reducing the energy use in the Swedish building stock, while at the same time making a large impact on heritage values in urban areas.…”

Exploring the Relationship between Environmental and Economic Payback Times, and Heritage Values in an Energy Renovation of a Multi-Residential Pre-War Building

“…The loans mainly targeted building housing from the pre-war and war periods, as those buildings had the highest energy use. The energy loans were introduced without the consideration of potential negative visual impacts and influences on aesthetics and heritage values [32]. The applied exterior energy measures, such as additional insulation, new façade materials, and the replacement of windows, have been criticized for their lack of consistency with the buildings' original architecture that resulted in a disfigurement of older housing stocks [33].…”