7.1 Introduction 1 Those responsible for the transfer of ESTs to residential, commercial and institutional buildings face two challenges. First, they must find ways to advance the best technologies from a great range of new technologies available to the buildings sector. And second, they must advance them rapidly to meet international climate change goals.
Buildings are long lasting and community development patterns have even longer lives.
The incremental costs of the best technologies is slight at time of construction, compared with the cost of replacing energy-wasteful buildings and equipment. The technologies themselves are varied and powerful. Yet, the transfer of these technologies poses special problems. When they do not have to pay the full cost of the energy they use, they have less incentive to use it wisely. Where a large portion of the occupants would have great difficulty paying the full costs immediately, there is strong political pressure to continue the subsidies.