Green building, split-incentives and affordable rental housing policy

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.