Measuring Fuel Poverty in Italy: A Comparison between Different Indicators

Giorgio Besagni,Marco Borgarello

doi:10.3390/su11102732

Abstract

Fuel poverty is a cutting-edge topic in the broader framework of the human dimensions of energy use. Fuel poverty research activities couple the demand side with the supply side and scale up the “household scale” towards the “country scale”. This paper contributes to the present-day discussion regarding suitable indicators to quantify the incidence of fuel poverty and, in particular, it considers an Italian case study. The Italian case is peculiar, in terms of climatic conditions (encompassing a very broad range of conditions), dwelling types (in terms of construction periods and urban areas), and the many socio-demographic dimensions present. So far, a comprehensive assessment of fuel poverty in Italy is elusive and, to cover this gap in knowledge, this paper proposes a comparison between different types of indicators. To this end, different indicators taken from the literature have been considered and a novel indicator, based on the “minimum thermal comfort” constraint, has been further developed. All the proposed measures of fuel poverty have been applied to the “Household Budget Survey” (reference year: 2015) and the results have been coupled with a segmentation of Italian households, previously proposed by the authors. Using this method, the “household scale” has been scaled up to consider the whole “country scale”, in the process of identifying vulnerable households. The obtained results are of practical importance and provide a rational basis for policy-makers when planning strategies to tackle the incidence of fuel poverty in Italy.

Highlights

In early 1979, Isherwood and Hancock [1] outlined the concept of energy poverty
Since 1991, many studies have been devoted to the “energy poverty” and “fuel poverty” concepts, as these situations determine a poor quality of life and might affect health conditions
Both concepts involve energy consumption at the “household scale” in the residential sector; on one hand, the “energy poverty” concept regards the issues of energy access and, on the other hand, the “fuel poverty” concept regards the issues of heating homes in wealthy countries

Summary

Introduction

In early 1979, Isherwood and Hancock [1] outlined the concept of energy poverty. Subsequently, in 1991, Brenda Boardman published the book “Fuel poverty: from cold homes to affordable warmth” [2]. According to the “10% indicator” (which dates back to the 1980s [2]), a household is classified as fuel poor if more than 10% of the income is devoted to energy supply Despite this measure having the great advantage of simplicity, it suffers from different shortcomings: (i) It is highly related to energy prices (which are variable with time); (ii) the 10% threshold is related to the UK economic situation in the 1980s; (iii) the income value is not considered; (iv) socio-demographic and geographic dimensions are not considered; and (v) the dwelling characteristics and type are not taken into account.

Dataset and Household Segmentation

Baseline Thermal Energy Requirement

Minimum Thermal Energy Requirement

Real Thermal Energy Expenditure

Results