Energy conservation programs and their impact on rental buildings in Italy, Sweden, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the United States.

The paper focusses on local energy conservation measures, and on programs and policies that deal with rental property issues, directly or indirectly, whether they may help or hinder energy conservation. Local programs studied are: U.S. - Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, San Francisco; Italy - Brescia, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna; Germany - Berlin, Saarbrucken, Rhein Main. Sweden discusses four national programs that are locally administered; building codes, loans and grants, local energy advisors, and general information. The various approaches being used in the different countries are briefly summarised and critically examined from a political, technical, administrative, informational, and social point of view. Particularly noted is the degree to which the programs are aimed directly at rental countries,only the U.S. has programs that are targeted to rental properties. The conclusion points out the obstacles a conservation campaign encounters, principally the need to raise consumer awareness.