Value of co-benefits from energy saving ventilation systems –Contingent valuations on Swiss home owners

Previous efforts exploring options to increase residential sector’s energy efficiency have overlookedthat highlighting co-benefits associated with energy efficiency may represent a promising strategyto draw attention from decision makers. For instance, buildings equipped with energy saving andcomfort ventilation (ESV) system provide, in addition to savings in energy costs, co-benefits suchas improved indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal comfort, and noise reduction. These co-benefits aredifficult to appraise by a person that has not experienced ESV. In Switzerland, Minergie houses areequipped with ESV. Thus, this paper estimates the value of ESV’s co-benefits by inquiring willingness to accept (WTA) compensation to hold off on using ESV from owners of Minergie houses. Average monthly WTA is CHF 181 —value dominated by IAQ. WTA protocols may deliver overestimated values. Consequently, this paper estimates willingness to pay (WTP) on a sample of owners of houses that are not equipped with ESV. Average monthly WTP is CHF 163 —value dominated by presence of allergies at home, an approximation to relevance of IAQ among respondents that have not experienced ESV. A back-of-the-envelope cost-benefit analysis informed with our estimates suggests that monthly co-benefits from ESV can be as much as twice the costs