Walter J.V. Vermeulen

Diffusion of energy-saving innovations in industry and the built environment: Dutch studies as inputs for a more integrated analytical framework

The need to improve eco-efficiency is indisputable, and the way forward is through widespread application of environmental innovations. Yet research into the dissemination of such innovations in the Netherlands has been limited in scope. Most studies tend to focus on the feasibility of a particular technology. Few try to explain how technology spreads throughout society. The explanatory factors discerned in these studies are often not related to each other. In this contribution the authors try to integrate different partial explanations for the diffusion of energy-saving technologies in industry and the built environment into one conceptual framework. This integration is based on a secondary analysis of relatively well-elaborated studies dealing with the diffusion of heat pumps, combined heat and power and condensing boilers in industry and the built environment. Core of the framework is the decision-making process of the potentially adapting actor. Characteristics of the actor and the networks in which the actor participates (government, market, society) could have impact on this decision-making process. Technological and economic characteristics of the innovation and more general context factors are also relevant as factors that influence the considerations made in the decision-making process. This conceptual framework can be used both in more elaborate research projects and in brainstorming projects to improve policymaking.

Implementation of wind energy in the Netherlands: the importance of the social-institutional setting

This paper analyses the differences in performance of the different types of wind power entrepreneurs now active on the wind power supply market in the Netherlands. The development of the market is divided into three successive market periods: Monopoly powers (1989–1995), Interbellum (1996–1997) and Free market (1998–2002). For each of these periods, the interdependency between various systemic conditions—technical, economic, institutional and social conditions—is analysed, with the focus on the relative importance of the institutional and social settings for market development. This interdependency is analysed using the implementation capacity concept. Implementation capacity is defined as the total of those systemic conditions and mutual interdependencies that influence the behaviour of wind power entrepreneurs. It indicates the feasibility for wind power entrepreneurs to adopt wind turbines. From the analysis it was concluded that no overall implementation capacity exists, and implementation capacities differ for entrepreneurial groups with different entrepreneurial features. With respect to the relative importance of institutional and social conditions, it became clear, that it is mainly these conditions that differentiate between the various entrepreneurial groups. The dynamic configuration of institutional and social conditions facilitates some and hinders other types of wind power entrepreneurs, and as a result determines the development and composition of the market. Finally, the analysis explains the changing roles of entrepreneurial groups throughout the 1990s.

Eco-industrial parks: toward industrial symbiosis and utility sharing in practice

The creation of eco-industrial parks has been adopted as an official national policy in the Netherlands. Many local projects have been supported by the national government, both financially and with expert advice. The policy is targeted at both infrastructure projects and at achieving symbiosis and utility sharing. Yet only a limited number of local projects are actually designed to bring about symbiosis and utility sharing. In this paper, we analyse eight cases of eco-industrial parks. The central question is what factors determine the degree of success in achieving symbiosis and/or utility sharing in eco-industrial parks. Business and location-specific features and the way in which the actual decision-making process is organised appear to be crucial factors. This finding implies that there is a need to bridge the tools and instruments of industrial ecology that focus on the physical flows of matter and energy to approaches and tools that concentrate on decision-making, business strategies, organisational characteristics and corporate environmental management.

Ecotourism as a mechanism for sustainable development: the case of Bhutan

Abstract Over the last few decades, Bhutan has followed a controlled tourism policy, with a ‘high value, low volume’ strategy. This approach is based on the countrys sustainable development policy. In recent years, tourism has been identified as the backbone of private sector growth. To this end, a ‘high value, low impact’ strategy was adopted, which would allow for a doubling of the number of tourists in the next decade. Growing numbers of visitors could jeopardize the intended low impact on both nature and culture, which are the selling points of Bhutanese tourism. In this article, we examine the contribution of tourism to the sustainable development of Bhutan, focusing on the socio-economic, environmental and cultural impacts of present-day tourism. Information was gathered by conducting field surveys in the tourist sector and in rural communities, and by analysing financial data relating to tourism. The results indicate that tourism has the potential to stimulate private sector growth by producing spin-off effects in the related service sector and to transform the rural economy. The impact on culture and the environment is currently low. However, the expected growth may, if it is not managed properly, erode the unique nature of tourism in Bhutan.

Carbon dioxide reduction in housing: experiences in urban renewal projects in the Netherlands

It is increasingly being recognised that the housing sector can contribute to reductions in the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2). The renewal of existing residential areas offers opportunities to reduce CO2 emissions. However, technical options for CO2-reduction, such as insulation, solar energy, and combined heat and power, often fail to materialise. For a better understanding of why options for CO2-reduction are applied or rejected, it is insufficient to consider only the economic and technical features of these options themselves: factors related to planning processes play an important role as well. Experiences in urban renewal projects suggest that a combination of local process management and national top-down strategies is needed to go beyond conventional building practices.

Greening Production as Co-Responsibility

Reducing the environmental impact of production processes in industry is traditionally one of the main targets of environmental policy. The government’s role in this field is realised within a field of tension of differing expectations in society. On the one hand the freedom of the market economy must be maintained where possible; the creative potential of entrepreneurs must be used to the full; businesses must be treated equally; and existing ‘rights’ must be respected. On the other hand, radical changes in production processes are constantly called for, changes which — in the existing financial and economic structures — can be at the expense of earnings and the continuity of individual firms.

Nature Conservation and Human Well-Being in Bhutan An Assessment of Local Community Perceptions

Bhutans nature conservation policy aims to integrate nature conservation and economic development. This policy is guided by a Buddhist attitude that places coexistence with nature over exploitation of nature for economic gain. We looked at how nature conservation policy affected everyday life and economic activities of local communities and what this may imply for the countrys long-term socioeconomic development. The study includes a field survey involving 210 local residents in two national parks. The results indicated that there is support for nature conservation in local communities despite the significant restrictions on the use of non—timber forest products and the loss of crops to wild animals. However, the compensation schemes are inadequate which may lead to depopulation and the abandonment of land in rural areas.

Supply Curves for Eco‐Efficient Environmental Improvements Using Different Weighting Methods

Eco‐efficiency implies environmental improvement at the lowest possible cost. When several environmental measures are possible, these can be ranked according to their cost per unit of environmental improvement, after which an eco‐efficient set of measures can be selected that yields a given level of environmental improvement at least cost. This procedure can be visualized as a supply curve for environmental improvement. Such a curve plots cumulative cost or cost per unit of environmental improvement against cumulative environmental improvement, with measures ordered according to increasing cost per unit of environmental improvement. This paper presents supply curves for environmental improvement on the basis of a set of possible environmental measures for a company in the Dutch oil and gas producing industry. To measure aggregated potential environmental improvement for a given measure, different environmental impacts are lumped together using weighting factors. We compare five methods for weighting environmental impacts, covering a wide range of current practices. The supply curves that were determined for each of the five weighting methods show relatively small differences, except for one (the distance‐to‐target method). The ranking of measures differs significantly, though, and as a result, so do the measures that are selected if total costs are restricted to a certain budget. Also, the consequent reduction in emissions of specific substances, in particular nitrogen oxides (NOx), depends on the weighting method selected.

Dynamic perspective on the relation between environmental policy and eco-efficiency: the case of wastewater treatment, waste and energy efficiency in the Dutch paper and board industry

The relation between environmental policy and innovation is complex. This paper aims to gain insight into the way accumulation of policy measures, or in other words, the increase of policy pressure, affects research activities and eco-efficiency. Three environmental domains have been researched for the Dutch paper and board industry: wastewater, waste and energy. Three trends (19802003) are identified for these topics: (1) development of environmental policy; (2) number research projects started and (3) eco-efficiency. We argue that if existing solutions and knowledge are not sufficient to reach the objectives, research activities will take place before eco-efficiency is improved. Moreover, we argue that an increase in policy pressure can cause competition between policy instruments. This may result in a smoothed and delayed increase in research activities (if existing knowledge is insufficient) and eco-efficiency improvement. This delayed eco-efficiency improvement was observed for wastewater and waste. It was not observed for energy efficiency.

Higher education level teaching of (master’s) programmes in sustainable development: analysis of views on prerequisites and practices based on a worldwide survey

The concept of sustainable development (SD) has highly been debated since it was presented 25 years ago, with ‘hard science’ approaches on one side and more process-oriented approaches on the other side. Academic teaching in SD has emerged in response to this in very different contexts, partly mirroring this academic debate. Some master’s programmes in SD take a strong science approach, while other programmes focus on the process of implementing sustainability projects, sometimes connected with forms of action research and teaching. In this article, we identify diverse views on the concept of SD as well as views on most relevant modes of teaching. We discuss core competencies required for sustainability professionals in their working practices and we organise them in three main clusters: Know, Interact and Be (KIB). The article presents the results of a worldwide survey, which addresses these visions on the concept of SD, the capabilities needed for ‘sustainable development professionals’ and the teaching approach needed. The analysis is based on the responses of 54 lecturers and 287 students active in 34 SD master’s programmes on all continents. The results of this worldwide survey are discussed. We observe in practice some gaps between preferences and practice. Looking at what both lecturers and students see as essential topics to address, some topics get relatively less attention (like the population issue). The identified core competencies (KIB) are supported and all addressed in practice, while the ‘Be’ competencies receive relatively less attention. Suggested consequences for academic teaching include a further matching of programmes with perceived needs and bridging the gap between the experienced teaching approaches in practice with such identified needs.