Dealing with energy poverty in Cyprus – an overview

Abstract

ABSTRACTEnergy poverty is the inability of a household to maintain basic energy services in the household, such as heating and cooling, due to unaffordability. This issue has been gaining public awareness since the financial crisis of 2008. Based on European-wide indicators, Cyprus demonstrates a high percentage of households with poor energy affordability. However, an in-depth investigation on energy poverty manifestations and measures has not been carried out. This paper aims to address this gap in knowledge, by outlining current measures associated with vulnerable consumers in Cyprus. Recommendations are made for the adoption of additional and/or complimentary action to effectively address energy poverty in Cyprus. Furthermore, a web-based survey collected demographic and economic information of dwellers, as well as technical characteristics of dwellings and perception of thermal comfort. Preliminary results indicate that approximately 40% of respondents reported spending up to a quarter of their net income towards energy bills.