An Investigation into the Impact of Green Buildings on Swedish Municipalities’ Built Environment

Abstract

Objectives: this paper aims to assess the economic, social and environmental impacts of the green buildings projects that were financed by Swedish municipalities through the green bonds scheme in Sweden.

Data: residential units characteristics as well as geographical information are collected by relying on municipalities’ reports. Such characteristics include the environmental impact, as measured in terms of avoided emissions, and the financial impact, as measured in necessary investments. Proximity to basic services is assessed by relying on the OpenStreetMap initiative.

Methodology: environmental impact is assessed by focusing on the emissions reduction potential of each project. Economic impact is assessed by looking at the sources and dimensions of the financial needs of each project. Social impact is estimated by considering the distance of the residential units from basic services and goods providers. Results from the social impact are aggregated using the Shimble Index.

Findings: large heterogeneity is observed across the three assessments. While some municipalities have been able to make an efficient use of the resources, as measured in emissions avoided per unit of currency, others have failed to do so and faced high investments costs to be able to reduce the emissions from their green buildings projects. The accessibility index shows a large variance as well: some of the projects have been able to supply housing units that allow people to access basic services as goods within reasonable distances while others have failed to do so. Accessibility to services and goods must be improved in the latter case to make possible for these projects to increase inclusivity and prevent exclusion and isolation.