A Conceptual Model of Polycentric Resource Governance in the 2030 District Energy Program

The 2030 District program encourages commercial building owners to make 50% cuts in building energy use, water use, and transportation emissions by 2030. Twenty cities have joined so far. Participating cities agree to the overall goals but each city develops its own method for monitoring progress and encouraging compliance. However, it is unclear how Districts are implementing monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. I analyzed the 2030 Districts using the “club theory” of voluntary programs and the Institutional Analysis and Development framework. Analysis of 2018 progress reports suggests that 2030 Districts have strict standards but low to moderate levels of monitoring and enforcement. Three Districts already achieved the interim energy target of a 20% reduction in building energy use by 2020. Additional research will investigate the mechanisms of monitoring and enforcement, the potential for positive “behavioral contagions,” and other issues. Note: I submitted the book chapter recently but there is (probably) still time to make revisions. Questions/topics for Workshop audience: • Next research steps: survey 2030 District managers (district level) and building owners (participating/non-participating) about monitoring, enforcement, sanctions, influence • Surveying participating business owners: how to deal with clustering within districts? • Role of behavioral economics in IAD framework? Sanctions for non-compliance vs. positive “behavioral contagions”?