Evaluating policy instruments to foster energy efficiency for the sustainable transformation of buildings

•All policy instruments reviewed have the potential to generate economic benefits.•Regulations and labels seem to work cost-effectively in many environments.•Voluntary agreements are comparable to standards, but need specific environment.•Information programs are size and design sensitive.•Public leadership procurement programs have hidden impacts under other instruments.

Energy efficiency policies have the unique capacity to contribute to a more sustainable energy future at an economic net benefit even when co-benefits are not included in the evaluations. The purpose of this paper is to present quantitative and comparative information on the societal cost-effectiveness and the lifetime energy savings of all light eight building energy efficiency policy instruments.While certain instruments, such as product standards and labels are shown to be able to achieve the largest energy savings, from a cost-effectiveness perspective, it is not possible to clearly prioritize the policy instruments reviewed. Any of them can be cost-effective if selected, designed, implemented and enforced in a tailored way to local resources, capacities and cultures.