The paper is open access and available here: authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...

In this regard, the latest Dutch reform is a promising step forward. By combining a thorough evaluation process (similar to the pre-2015 system) with a mandatory requirement, it hopefully combines the best of both worlds to improve the information function of energy labels.

Our work has important implications for policymakers. We recommend that energy labels should not be relied upon as the sole tool for informing the public or influencing behavior. Instead, they should be part of a larger system.

One should note that our study covers a period of relatively stable energy prices in the Netherlands. The value homebuyers place on energy efficiency may be different in today’s market with higher and more volatile prices.

— Conclusion: A significant part of the “green premium” cannot be attributed to the energy labels themselves but is linked to underlying energy efficiency and other factors the market already priced in.

— Mandatory Labels (since 2015) show a more complex picture. While better-labeled homes sold for more, we found they already attracted a price premium before they obtained energy labels.

Key Findings:
— Voluntary Labels (2008–2014) had limited information value. Our Regression Discontinuity Design showed no significant price premium for homes that barely qualified for a better label grade.

We investigated whether energy labels provide new, valuable information to homebuyers or simply confirm what’s already observable. Using administrative data on all Dutch housing transactions from 2000 to 2017, we analyzed two systems: a complex voluntary one and a simple mandatory one.

As the PhD journey comes to an end, I am grateful for the supervision and guidance of Noemi Peter and @asoetevent.bsky.social over the past years.

Finally, a special thank you to Lotte Swank and Mark Van Oldeniel for their wonderful support as my paranymphs.

I extend my gratitude to the members of the reading committee (@marcohaan.nl, @menuschkhadjavi.bsky.social, and Jason Shachat) and the wider committee (@dedreu.bsky.social, @harrygarretsen.bsky.social, Pim Heijnen, and Gijsbert Zwart) for their engagement with my work.

At the kickoff meeting in Göttingen, researchers from the 13 subprojects as well as practice partners got to know each other and exchanged ideas for future collaboration.

#FoResLab, a future lab towards forests resilient to climate change, combines many fields and disciplines. Within our subproject, Ann-Kathrin Koessler and I work on understanding stakeholders’ preferences and creating support for sustainable forest trajectories.

I just pre-ordered it!