Fuel Poverty Research Articles

An unfavorable indoor environment as mediator between fuel poverty and health: an exploration

Abstract Aim The objective of this study is to gain insight into the extent to which an unfavorable indoor environment mediates the association between fuel poverty and health. Method Data from the 2022 Dutch Health Survey were enriched with some registration data from the 2020 Monitor Fuel Poverty, resulting in a study population of 16,210 adults. Using Structural Equation Modeling in R, the mediation effect of an unfavorable indoor environment on the relationship between fuel poverty and various health outcomes was examined. An unfavorable indoor environment was defined as moisture, mold, and/or inadequate ventilation, as indicators of housing quality. Analyses were adjusted for various demographic factors: age, gender, property ownership (tenants or not), level of education, household with or with no children, and level of urbanity of the residence. Results Fuel poverty is negatively associated with the absence of mental health issues and with social capital and positively associated with the risk of anxiety or depression, a negative self-rated health, physical limitations in daily life, loneliness, and stress. These associations are partially mediated by an unfavorable indoor environment (mediation proportion: 5.5–10.8%). In a subgroup analysis of tenants of housing corporations, the mediation proportion ranges from 8.3 to 20.1%. Conclusion An unfavorable housing quality with moisture, mold, and/or inadequate ventilation is a mediating factor in the relationship between fuel poverty and health. Addressing the health effects of fuel poverty requires a comprehensive and structural approach, of which the indoor environment is an integral part. Connecting fuel poverty, housing quality, and health is necessary in both research and policy addressing fuel poverty.

Living in the “All-Electric Alcatraz”: Fuel Poverty in 1970s British Social Housing

Living in the “All-Electric Alcatraz”: Fuel Poverty in 1970s British Social Housing

Fuel poverty and mental health in a COVID-19 context

Fuel poverty is a widespread problem which affects people's health and has serious economic and social repercussions. Mental health has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and appears to be particularly influenced by fuel poverty. We analyze this relationship while highlighting the unequal vulnerability of individuals in the population. We first built a novel database of 4194 representative observations of the French adult population. We then used a conditional mixed-process model to quantify the causal effect of fuel poverty on mental health using instrumental variables to overcome potential endogeneity. We prove the robustness of this causal effect by providing different sensitivity tests. Our results show that being fuel poor decreases the mental health score by 6.3 points out of 100. Fuel poverty also increases the depression score by 5.35 points, the anxiety score by 6.48 points, and decreases the social health score by 6.82 points. Our results show that tackling energy poverty can lead to positive spillover effects to improve mental health. Mitigation policies to provide energy-efficient housing should also become a priority to address climatic and economic hazards in the long term because they imply co-benefits in health.

Subjective indicators of fuel poverty in Zarqa Governorate, Jordan

Fuel poverty is a pressing global issue for households, particularly low-income ones. This study employs a subjective approach to examine fuel poverty in Jordan. Analyzing data from a survey of 490 participants in Zarqa Governorate, it evaluates the main determinants of subjective fuel poverty. The survey was conducted over 1 month, from March 10 to April 10, 2022. Findings reveal that the sample households experience challenges related to fuel poverty. The modeling of subjective indicators indicates an association between income level and the probability of being in arrears with utility bills. Moreover, the results highlight issues such as an inability to maintain adequate summer and winter temperatures and the presence of leaks, damp, and rot. In light of these findings, policy interventions should focus on enhancing energy efficiency and supporting vulnerable low-income households, particularly those in rural areas.

A Qualitative Evaluation of the Warm Banks Scheme as a Response to the Cost‐of‐Living Crisis in North East England

Fuel poverty was a significant problem during the cost‐of‐living crisis that started in 2021 as energy prices increased. Local authorities launched warm bank schemes around the United Kingdom to address this problem by providing warm spaces for residents to visit who could not heat their homes. This paper reports on an evaluation of the warm bank scheme launched by South Tyneside Council in winter 2022, locally known as Welcoming Places. Over 70 locations were opened around the borough. The evaluation consisted of two stages. In stage 1, we conducted semistructured interviews (n = 16) with residents who attended Welcoming Places and two focus groups with people running them (n = 9). In stage 2, we discussed the initial findings from stage 1 in a focus group with residents (n = 8). Three major themes are presented: “help and support with the cost‐of‐living crisis,” “it’s worth its weight in gold,” and “capability and strength of Welcoming Places.” This is one of the first evaluations of a warm bank scheme in England. We illustrate how the Welcoming Places in South Tyneside were used and experienced by residents. The scheme was valued by residents, provided significant support during the cost‐of‐living crisis, and had a positive impact on self‐reported mental health among participants. Warm bank schemes offer a practical, rapid public health response to the cost‐of‐living crisis for local authorities as well as improving residents’ mental health and well‐being; however, holistic approaches must be taken to address the underlying causes of fuel poverty.

Dynamics of Fuel Poverty in the Uk and the Impact of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Affordable Warmth Scheme

Dynamics of Fuel Poverty in the Uk and the Impact of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Affordable Warmth Scheme

Assessing the Impact of Energy and Fuel Poverty on Health: A European Scoping Review

Abstract Background The burden of energy and fuel poverty (EFP) in Europe is increasing in the face of the cost-of-living crisis, Russian invasion of Ukraine, COVID-19 pandemic, and climate emergency. While the health impacts of EFP are often the driving reason for addressing it, EFP's association with health is poorly delineated. This review aims to scope the evidence of EFP's association with health in Europe. Methods A scoping review based on Arksey and O'Malley's framework was conducted using search terms relevant to EFP, health, and Europe. Five databases were searched, in addition to hand searching. Review selection was performed by two independent reviewers and articles were thematically analysed. Results Thirty-five articles published between January 2000 and March 2022 were included. The literature varied in definitions and measurements of EFP, and in the health indicators examined. The review revealed a negative association between EFP and health, specifically, general unspecified poor health (9 articles), excess winter mortality (3 articles), communicable disease (3 articles), non-communicable diseases (11 articles), mental health (15 articles), and wellbeing (11 articles). While women were reported to be at higher risk of EFP than men, children and older adults were identified as particularly vulnerable to EFP's adverse health repercussions. Conclusions This scoping review illustrates a significant and complex association between EFP and various domains of health. Though heterogeneity across research makes it difficult to compare findings, our review supports the use of health as a justification to address EFP and urges public health to be more involved in EFP mitigation. Key messages • This scoping review revealed a clear association between EFP and various domains of health, including mental (e.g., anxiety and depression) and physical health (e.g., cardiovascular disease and flu). • We recommend health systems, health professionals, and public health broadly as a field be more involved in working to confront EFP.

Identifying drivers of food insecurity through linked data- the Priority Places for Food Index

Introduction & Background15.5% of all UK households are food insecure; either unable to afford to eat, skipping meals or reducing meal sizes despite being hungry. Drivers of food insecurity include both access to and affordability of food, with those most in need often left unable to access healthy and affordable food. Taking a place-based approach to understand the drivers of food insecurity allows for targeted support from government, third sector and private organisations to mitigate growing food insecurity in the UK.
 Objectives & ApproachThis research presents the methodology for the co-production and construction of the Priority Places for Food Index (PPFI) and supporting dashboard, co-designed by the Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC) and consumer champions Which? in response to the 'cost-of-living crisis'.
 The PPFI equally weights measures of access to affordable food and indicators of barriers to affording food across seven domains; Proximity to supermarket retail facilities, Accessibility of supermarket retail facilities, Access to online deliveries, Proximity to non-supermarket food provision, Socio-economic barriers, Fuel Poverty and Family Food for support. The PPFI uses open data combing traditional census data metrics, with government data (e.g., Healthy start voucher and free-school meals uptake), digital footprints data (web-scraped delivery addresses and food bank item request data) and scaled-survey data (fuel poverty, propensity to shop online).
 Relevance to Digital FootprintsDigital footprint data can complement traditional data sources to provide a more nuanced view of health inequalities. These data are typically less timely to collect than traditional data collection methods (census, survey) allowing a more reactive response to emergent issues such as the cost-of-living crisis.
 ResultsThe PPFI interactive map and underlying data have been published via the CDRC https://priorityplaces.cdrc.ac.uk/.
 Conclusions & ImplicationsWe demonstrate the value of data linkage across individual and population level data to provide localised insight into food insecurity and identify where digital footprints data can improve gaps in the current evidence base. We also reflect on the value of co-production and stakeholder engagement in creating a policy ready interactive map which has facilitated the lobbying of targeted practical support and policy change to address food insecurity.

A policy impact case study using real world data from Welsh government fuel poverty schemes to inform scheme design

ObjectivesTo reduce fuel poverty in Wales: the Welsh Government developed schemes to provide energy efficiency improvements to lower income households.
 To inform scheme design: investigate health impacts by linking scheme data to health records.
 Presented objective: to demonstrate how research findings using real world data can impact policy focus.
 ApproachThe research was conducted by an independent researcher at Swansea University who co-produced research questions with the Welsh Government Fuel Poverty Policy Team.
 A longitudinal dataset was created linking anonymised ‘Warm Homes: Nest’ improvements data to residents’ routine health records in the SAIL Databank at Swansea University. We examined recipient health before and after intervention compared with controls.
 A high-level policy briefing and research report were published in the Welsh Government Social Research – Analysis for Policy series.
 Findings were used to design and pilot new eligibility criteria to capture low-income individuals with a respiratory, circulatory or mental health condition.
 ResultsThis presentation will describe the policy impact pathway from initial discussions with policymakers to real world change, including:
 
 securing ESRC funding for a Knowledge Transfer Fellowship, which included a 2013 data linking demonstration project…
 …which allowed funding to be secured for a 2015-18 research project on the impact of improvements on recipient health…
 …which published emerging findings in 2016…
 …and substantive findings in 2017, showing a significant positive impact of improvements on recipient health…
 …which policymakers used to design a pilot to test ways to widen eligibility criteria to include individuals on a low income with a respiratory, circulatory or mental health condition…
 …which led to scheme criteria being widened in 2019.
 
 By 2021, 25% of recipients entered the scheme via the ‘health route’.
 ConclusionBy delivering research findings generated using linked real world data, and focused on questions co-produced with policymakers, researchers can successfully impact the design and implementation of government policy, thereby improving the lives of people in the real world - in this case, the health of the citizens of Wales.

Households’ Clean Cooking Fuel Poverty: Testing the Energy-Ladder Hypothesis in the Case of Bangladesh

The study explores clean cooking fuel poverty in Bangladeshi households based on the energy ladder hypothesis stating that as income increases, households switch towards cleaner cooking fuels. Data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Household Survey (BDHS) 2017-18 reveals that 20.45% of households use advanced or cleaner cooking fuels, while a majority (79.23%) still rely on primitive or traditional cooking fuels. Electricity is used by a very small percentage (0.57%), while LPG is used by a slightly higher proportion (6.96%). Biogas usage is minimal (0.11%), and a small percentage (0.03%) still relies on kerosene. Wood is the dominant fuel (46.25%), and other minor sources include charcoal (0.10%), straw/shrubs/grass (0.63%), agricultural crop residues (25.96%), and animal dung (6.39%). The results reveal that only a small proportion of households (20.45%) are classified as "clean cooking fuel non-poor," indicating a limited adoption of cleaner cooking technologies in Bangladesh. Further analysis indicates a gradual increase in clean cooking fuel usage as wealth status improves. Only 0.25% of the poorest households use clean fuels, while the percentage increases to 0.68% in the "poorer" category, 3.92% in the "middle" wealth category, and 24.51% in the "richer" category. Among the wealthiest households, 70.64% use clean cooking fuels. The study highlights the urgent need for policymakers in Bangladesh to address clean cooking fuel poverty by implementing measures like subsidies, awareness campaigns, and infrastructure development to promote cleaner cooking technologies, thereby improving public health and environmental sustainability.

Addressing Multidimensional Energy Poverty Implications on Achieving Sustainable Development

This study examines whether shifts in the stance of policymaking can account for the observed predictability in excess energy poverty (EP) or fuel poverty (FP) levels. Energy-related poverty is a subcategory of global poverty and can be categorized into accessibility problems related to EP and affordability issues associated with FP, which have a similar but not identical meaning. Furthermore, developed and developing countries have different energy issues, as the former deal with FP and the latter with EP. However, there are discrepancies in EP not only between countries but within counties as well; for instance, there are differences in urban and rural areas too. Difficulties in energy access can be devastating for people living at risk of poverty. Social welfare, although at stake due to the energy crisis sparked at the same time as the warfare in eastern Europe. Renewables and green fossil fuels have price fluctuations, and inflation is also a stress factor in EP. Generally, solutions to EP and FP could be, inter alia, the adoption of renewables, governmental regulation, and supranational support through the green deals and sustainable development goals (SDGs). In short, the inflationary trend disequilibrium and raging war have put Agenda 2030 at stake due to the provocation of sustainability via energy-related vulnerability, insecurity, and poverty phenomena.

The 2022 energy crisis: Fuel poverty and the impact of policy interventions in Australia's National Electricity Market

The war in Ukraine and associated 2022 energy crisis had far-reaching effects, with seaborne prices for coal and gas reaching multiples of their historic averages. While Europe was the epicentre, countries as far away as Australia were impacted. Governments across multiple jurisdictions have since orchestrated very material energy subsidies for households to reduce the adverse effects, with fiscal estimates across EU member states ranging from 0.5 to 7% of GDP. As a major energy exporter, the Australian Government took a different policy pathway by targeting the source of electricity tariff increases, viz. imposing price caps of $125/t and $12/GJ for coal and gas, respectively. Some state governments in Australia also revised their household energy hardship policies. This article analyses the level of fuel poverty before- and after- the array of Commonwealth and State policy interventions. Commonwealth policy had the effect of moderating forecast electricity tariff increases from 35% to 16.5%, which benefits all customers. However, State Government customer hardship policy remains vitally important and makes the dominant contribution in reducing fuel poverty.

Keep out the cold: An analysis of potential gaps in fuel poverty policies in Ireland

Fuel poverty in Ireland is a significant issue faced by almost a quarter of the population as per government statistics. In this study, we analyse fuel poverty data in Ireland between 2008 and 2020 using the Irish subset of EU SILC data. We find that the increase in the proportion of households receiving Fuel Allowance and the decrease in the proportion of poor-quality dwellings have a significant positive impact on the decline in aggregate fuel poverty experienced. We also analyse a sample of low-income households that experience fuel poverty and compare groups that are targeted by official policies with others on key indicators. We find that the existing supports normally target lower-income households who live in energy-inefficient dwellings and are of retirement age. We also find that non-targeted larger urban families who live in rented or mortgaged dwellings experience significant fuel poverty due to difficulty paying bills. We identify some gaps in the current policies that target fuel poverty. We propose that fully funded energy efficiency retrofits and social transfers for vulnerable households to help with the cost of heating, which are policies already used in Ireland to target fuel poverty, should be expanded to effectively reach a cohort of the population that is facing challenges to keep warm.

Analysis of the world scientific production on Energy Poverty, Fuel Poverty and Energy Vulnerability

It is estimated that energy poverty affects between 50 and 125 million people in Europe. Rates of energy poverty vary among Member States, but are generally higher in Southern and Eastern Europe. The aim of this study is to investigate the scientific production related to energy poverty, fuel poverty and energy vulnerability through a bibliometric analysis, using Scopus database. The bibliometric analysis was performed for Year, Subject area, Source type, Document type, Affiliation, Country/Territory, Funding sponsors and an analysis of the keywords used. The study uses three keywords: “energy poverty”, “fuel poverty” and “energy vulnerability”, and records the works published from 1981 to 2021. There has been a significant increase in the number of publications in the last decade. Energy is the most productive subject area, followed by Environmental Science and Social Sciences. There is also a significant geographic centralization, with most of the works published in the United Kingdom and the United States. Economically developed countries produced more academic research than developing countries; the research institutions with the highest production comes from the UK, USA, Spain and Greece. For further analysis to reveal the new research trends, the first 160 keywords used are categorised according to their content.

Fuel Poverty and the 2022 Energy Crisis

AbstractThe Ukraine war has increased coal and gas prices during 2022. Consequently, spot prices in Australia's National Electricity Market rose from $75 to $225/MWh, year‐on‐year. Households are shielded from spot prices, but as energy retailer hedge contracts mature, they are replaced by higher cost contracts, and end‐use retail tariffs will then rise. In this article, fuel poverty levels in Queensland are analysed. Model results forecast that fuel poverty rises from 6.8 per cent to 10.5 per cent of households. However, changes to energy concessions policy in 2016‒2017 materially enhanced horizontal and vertical efficiency, with successful targeting rising from 51 per cent to 69 per cent of vulnerable households.

Fuel Poverty or Energy Hardship? Analysing the literature, the proposed official definition, and the views of experts in Aotearoa New Zealand

Fuel poverty is a serious condition in New Zealand, caused by the inability to afford sufficient energy services and resulting in detriment to health and wellbeing. Inconsistent ways of describing and measuring fuel poverty affect the perception and depth of the issue and the proposed interventions. This article analyses the proposed definition and indicators of energy hardship developed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, in addition to the literature and the perspectives of five New Zealand experts. Findings suggest that the proposed energy hardship description and measures are well-aligned with the recommendations given by the interviewed experts and the literature findings on fuel poverty, which bodes well for effective interventions to minimise the issue.

Planning energy interventions in buildings and tackling fuel poverty: Can two birds be fed with one scone?

Energy retrofitting and renovations are an inseparable part of decarbonisation strategies in the building sector. These measures are often tied up with several social factors that can potentially impact the wellbeing of households and the community if the end-user requirements are not carefully considered. Fuel poverty is one of these social factors that is an essential consideration for designing effective, just, and user-centred interventions, but it is often overlooked in engineering processes. Therefore, this article seeks to re-connect the notion of fuel poverty to practice by bringing it forward from the post-intervention assessments to the design and decision-making stages. To do so, a new indicator, Potential Fuel Poverty Index (PFPI), is developed to obtain the likelihood of fuel poverty that future interventions can pose to the households. The PFPI presents a more targeted analysis of fuel poverty by reflecting the socio-spatial characterisation of the households. Using the PFPI, fuel poverty can be observed as a design/decision factor at the early stages of sketching interventions, in conjunction with other economic, environmental, and technical factors. Finally, the utility of the developed method is demonstrated using a real case study in the UK, assessing the impact of heat decarbonisation through heat pumps on fuel poverty.

Fuel poverty: not a new phenomenon

Practice NursingVol. 33, No. 10 EditorialFuel poverty: not a new phenomenonKelly Nickalls HillKelly Nickalls HillEditorSearch for more papers by this authorKelly Nickalls HillPublished Online:7 Oct 2022https://doi.org/10.12968/pnur.2022.33.10.397AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail View article References Heatable. History of Ofgem's Energy Price Cap - a Timeline. 2022. https://heatable.co.uk/boiler-advice/history-of-ofgems-energy-price-cap (accessed 26 September 2022) Google ScholarInstitute of Health Equity and Public Health England. Fuel poverty and cold home-related health problems. 2014. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/355790/Briefing7_Fuel_poverty_health_inequalities.pdf (accessed 26 September 2022) Google ScholarLee A, Sinha I, Boyce T, Allen J, Goldblatt P. Fuel poverty, cold homes and health inequalities. London: Institute of Health Equity. 2022. https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-reports/fuel-poverty-cold-homes-and-health-inequalities-in-the-uk/read-the-report.pdf (accessed 26 September 2022) Google Scholar FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 2 October 2022Volume 33Issue 10ISSN (print): 0964-9271ISSN (online): 2052-2940 Metrics History Published online 7 October 2022 Published in print 2 October 2022 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedPDF download

A Policy Impact Case Study Using Real World Data from Welsh Government Fuel Poverty Schemes to Inform Scheme Design.

ObjectivesTo reduce fuel poverty in Wales: the Welsh Government developed schemes to provide energy efficiency improvements to lower income households. To inform scheme design: investigate health impacts by linking scheme data to health records. Presented objective: to demonstrate how research findings using real world data can impact policy focus. ApproachThe research was conducted by an independent researcher at Swansea University who co-produced research questions with the Welsh Government Fuel Poverty Policy Team. A longitudinal dataset was created by linking anonymised ‘Warm Homes: Nest’ improvements data to residents’ routine health records in the SAIL Databank at Swansea University. We examined recipient health before and after intervention compared with controls. A high-level policy briefing and research report were published in the Welsh Government Social Research – Analysis for Policy series. Findings were used to design and pilot new eligibility criteria to capture low-income individuals with a respiratory, circulatory or mental health condition. ResultsThis presentation will describe the policy impact pathway from initial discussions with policymakers to real world change, including: securing ESRC funding for a Knowledge Transfer Fellowship, which included a 2013 data linking demonstration project… …which allowed funding to be secured for a 2015-18 research project focused on the impact of improvements on recipient health… …which published emerging findings in 2016… …and substantive findings in 2017, showing a significant positive impact of improvements on recipient health… …which policymakers used to design a pilot to test ways to widen eligibility criteria to include individuals on a low income with a respiratory, circulatory or mental health condition… …which led to scheme criteria being widened in 2019. By 2021, 25% of recipients entered the scheme via the ‘health route’. ConclusionBy delivering research findings generated using linked real world data, and focused on questions co-produced with policymakers, researchers can successfully impact the design and implementation of government policy, thereby improving the lives of people in the real world - in this case, the health of the citizens of Wales.

Fuel poverty measurements in residential America. Who are the most vulnerable?

There is much debate on which measurement approach to use when attempting to quantify fuel poverty. We propose a new multidimensional measurement to gauge the extent of fuel poverty in the US. Using our measure, we find that approximately 10 per cent less households are categorised as fuel poor compared with traditional measurement approaches. The likelihood of being fuel poor is higher; if a household is occupied by renters, is non-white, or has elderly people and children, for all regions. These results have useful implications for policy formation and targeting appropriate supports to address this issue.