ENERGY POVERTY AND ITS SOCIAL, INCOME AND HOUSING DIMENSIONS: INSIGHTS FROM EUROSTAT DATA
ENERGY POVERTY AND ITS SOCIAL, INCOME AND HOUSING DIMENSIONS: INSIGHTS FROM EUROSTAT DATA

Summary/Abstract: Energy poverty is characterized by a household's inability to afford adequate energy services for a decent standard of living, extends beyond mere income deprivation, encompassing factors such as poor housing conditions, high energy prices, and inefficient energy consumption. Consequently, understanding and addressing energy poverty requires a holistic approach. energy poverty is also shaped by factors such as the energy efficiency of dwellings, the cost of energy, and individual energy consumption behaviors. Early scholarly contributions, notably Brenda Boardman’s seminal work, established the foundational understanding of energy poverty as a condition where households are unable to afford adequate energy services to maintain a healthy and comfortable living environment. Building on Boardman's work, subsequent research has further refined these factors, integrating aspects like energy efficiency, housing quality, and the broader socio-economic context to provide a more nuanced understanding of energy poverty dynamics. The complexity behind the concept of energy poverty has led to varied measurement approaches globally, with no single, universally accepted standard for assessing energy poverty, leading to challenges in international comparability and policy implementation. Recognizing these complexities, the European Union has moved towards a more comprehensive understanding, seeking to integrate various dimensions into a cohesive Framework. The European Union's approach often incorporates metrics such as the inability to keep homes adequately warm, the presence of leaking roofs or damp walls, and high housing cost overburden rates to capture the lived experiences of energy-poor households. This research employs a methodology centered on four basic indicators extracted from Eurostat data, enabling a comprehensive examination of energy poverty's social, income, and housing quality components. Specifically, the selected indicators – percentage of total population living in a dwelling with structural defects, percentage of households unable to keep home adequately warm, and housing cost overburden rate – offer a framework for assessing the multifaceted nature of energy poverty across EU member states. The general trend indicates a slight improvement in the level of energy poverty across EU countries, albeit with persistent variations between the best and worst performers. While some policy measures may be effective broadly, others require refinement to address specific national or regional challenges. Furthermore, an increased focus on energy efficiency policies and renewable energy sources has been identified as a key driver for alleviating energy poverty, particularly in the long-term. This underscores the critical need for agile and adaptable policy responses that can swiftly address emergent challenges while fostering long-term resilience in energy systems.

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