Green building, split-incentives and affordable rental housing policy

Stefen MacAskill, Rodney A. Stewart, Eduardo Roca, Benjamin Liu and Oz Sahin

Housing Studies, 2021, vol. 36, issue 1, 23-45

Abstract: We investigate the notion of capitalizing on investments in energy, water and gas efficiency within the context of affordable rental housing subsidy schemes; how associated utility savings offer a means to deliver policy designed to mitigate for issues of split-incentives. An Australian case study representing a typical affordable housing development is analyzed for two scenarios - a ‘Business as usual’ and ‘Green-certified’ case. Over a 10-year rental tenancy, operational utility efficiencies, achieved through green building principles are modelled to reduce total housing costs by 1.7–3.8% (AUD $5–18 per week), for one- and four-person households, respectively. Over the building lifecycle, the net present value of improvements are forecasted to be positive, signalling favourable support for policy interventions. The findings provide evidence to support a broader notion of ‘housing assistance’ to one that includes improved standards on residential utility efficiency. We present three policy options on how to deliver these benefits to stakeholders.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1080/02673037.2019.1677861

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