Abstract

As households get smaller worldwide, the extent of sharing within households reduces, resulting in rising per capita energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This article examines for the first time the differences in household economies of scale across EU countries as a way to support reductions in energy use and GHG emissions, while considering differences in effects across consumption domains and urban-rural typology. A country-comparative analysis is important to facilitate the formulation of context-specific initiatives and policies for resource sharing. We find that one-person households are most carbon- and energy-intensive per capita with an EU average of 9.2 tCO2eq/cap and 0.14 TJ/cap, and a total contribution of about 17% to the EU’s carbon and energy use. Two-person households contribute about 31% to the EU carbon and energy footprint, while those of five or more members add about 9%. The average carbon and energy footprints of an EU household of five or more is about half that of a one-person average household, amounting to 4.6 tCO2eq/cap and 0.07 TJ/cap. Household economies of scale vary substantially across consumption categories, urban-rural typology and EU countries. Substantial household economies of scale are noted for home energy, real estate services and miscellaneous services such as waste treatment and water supply; yet, some of the weakest household economies of scale occur in high carbon domains such as transport. Furthermore, Northern and Central European states are more likely to report strong household economies of scale—particularly in sparsely populated areas—compared to Southern and Eastern European countries. We discuss ways in which differences in household economies of scale may be linked to social, political and climatic conditions. We also provide policy recommendations for encouraging sharing within and between households as a contribution to climate change mitigation.

Highlights

  • We need rapid and effective climate action to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and avoid catastrophic climate change

  • Substantial household economies of scale are noted for home energy, real estate services and miscellaneous services such as waste treatment and water supply; yet, some of the weakest household economies of scale occur in high carbon domains such as transport

  • EU another household member in a sparsely populated environment is associated with larger household economies of scale compared to doing so in a densely

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Summary

Introduction

We need rapid and effective climate action to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and avoid catastrophic climate change. There are some socio-demographic trends that may make it more difficult to achieve this One such trend is the shrinking of household sizes globally. Several studies have shown that there is a strong link between household size and per capita energy use and GHG emissions [2,3,4,5,6] in both developed and developing countries [7]. There are “economies of scale”—people tend to share appliances, tools and equipment, cook together and heat and cool common living spaces. These acts of sharing allow for the per capita energy use to diminish with rising household size. As households get smaller, the extent of sharing within

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