Household Energy Poverty Research Articles

Household Energy Poverty in European Union Countries: A Comparative Analysis Based on Objective and Subjective Indicators

The study aims to assess household energy poverty in European Union (EU) countries, comparing them based on the Objective Energy Poverty Index and the Subjective Energy Poverty Index. The Objective Energy Poverty Index is derived from indicators such as energy expenditure share, risk-of-poverty rate, and electricity prices. The Subjective Energy Poverty Index includes indicators such as the inability to keep the home adequately warm, arrears on utility bills, and bad housing conditions. Both indices aggregate the indicators mentioned above using equal and non-equal weighting approaches. The analysis uses country-level data from 2019 to 2023 sourced from Eurostat. The findings indicate considerable variation in household energy poverty across the EU, with more pronounced inequalities in subjective indicators than objective ones. Additionally, the study reveals a weak correlation between the Objective Energy Poverty Index and the Subjective Energy Poverty Index, leading to differing country rankings based on these indices. However, the choice of weights in constructing the energy poverty indices does not significantly impact a country’s energy poverty ranking. The paper also identifies countries where household energy poverty decreased in 2023 compared to 2019 and those where it increased. Regarding the Subjective Energy Poverty Index, Croatia and Hungary showed the most notable improvement in their rankings among European countries, while France, Germany, and Spain deteriorated their positions. According to the Objective Energy Poverty Index, Bulgaria, Croatia, Portugal, and Spain demonstrated the most significant improvement, whereas Greece experienced a considerable decline.

Household Energy Poverty in the Context of Socioeconomic Status and Area of Residence: A Comparison of Central and Southern Punjab

Researchers have increasingly focused on the impact of energy poverty across various sectors of the economy. This paper aims to identify the determinants of household energy poverty in Central and Southern Punjab, Pakistan, utilizing the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey Data from 2017-18. The analysis employs descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression to assess the influence of various socioeconomic and demographic factors on multidimensional energy poverty. The survey results indicate a disparity between the two regions, with just over 50 percent of respondents reporting energy poverty. The education level of the household head, wealth status, and place of residence are critical factors influencing multidimensional energy poverty. The findings highlight the substantial influence of socioeconomic factors on household energy poverty and underscore the necessity for effective policies to address these challenges.

Examining Energy Poverty among Vulnerable Women-Led Households in Urban Housing before and after COVID-19 Lockdown: A Case Study from a Neighbourhood in Madrid, Spain

People with lower incomes often live in homes with poor thermal properties, making it difficult for them to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. This vulnerability is closely related to the quality and maintenance of housing, which negatively affects indoor environmental comfort, especially in terms of energy usage, having an impact on health and well-being. Studying energy poverty from a qualitative perspective allows us to delve deeper into the experience of these people. A qualitative study was carried out through a case study of women in a situation of household vulnerability and energy poverty. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five women-led households and two key informants before and after the COVID-19 confinement, in one of the most vulnerable neighbourhoods of Madrid. Unveiling the complexity of this topic, three categories were identified: household composition and economic resources, perception and proposals for household improvements, and household health and well-being. Furthermore, the results suggest that reliance on inefficient solutions such as electric radiators or butane-cylinder heaters for space heating in winter (more affordable in the short term, but unsustainable in the long one) shows evidence of energy precariousness, which, together with other poor housing conditions and users’ behaviours, impact clearly on health, generating or worsening chronic diseases. Research in vulnerable populations requires interventions beyond visibility, supported by key informants. Social workers and educators are essential to improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable people; however, they need social policies and adequate intervention plans and strategies to support and make their efforts effective.

Energy poverty and health in Turkey: Evidence from Longitudinal data

This study critically examines the effect of energy poverty on health in Turkey between 2018 and 2021 using the Income and Living Conditions Survey Longitudinal Micro Data Set. It considers the multidimensional structure of household energy poverty and its individual effects on health, resulting in several significant findings. Firstly, the multidimensional energy poverty index at the household level is obtained as a continuous variable using principal component analysis, considering subjective and objective indicators of energy poverty. Secondly, the impact of energy poverty on health at the individual level and the effect of several socioeconomic variables, including unobserved heterogeneity, are estimated with the random effects ordered logit model. Finally, commonly used measures of energy poverty in the literature and their health impacts are compared. The robustness analysis results show that the model's goodness of fit is highest when the multidimensional energy poverty index is constructed using principal component analysis. In addition, the analysis results show that unobserved heterogeneity across individuals significantly impacts health. These results indicate that decentralized policies should be implemented to increase policy effectiveness in combating energy poverty.

Digital financial inclusion and household energy poverty: Evidence from China

This paper examines the impact of digital financial inclusion (DFI) on household energy poverty. We develop a simple theoretical model to explain the energy poverty alleviation effect of DFI. Using multidimensional household energy consumption survey data, we find that DFI reduces the incidence of household energy poverty by about 33.5 % and the intensity of energy poverty by 24.6 %, driven mainly by improvements in energy efficiency and an increase in household off-farm work, resulting in a stronger role in rural and low-income groups. However, the threshold model demonstrates that the Internet and digital tools are a prerequisite for this pro-poor energy effect to be realized. Notably, DFI, while exhibiting spatial spillover effects, exacerbate energy poverty in neighboring areas due to the siphoning effect.

Effects of social capital on energy poverty: Evidence from the national key ecological function zones in Northeast China

In the contemporary discourse of sustainable development, the phenomenon of energy poverty emerges as a formidable challenge to the trajectory of human progress in the 21st century. Employing a comprehensive four-period longitudinal dataset spanning from 2018 to 2021, which encapsulates the national key ecological function zones (NKEFZs) in Northeast China, this study utilize two-way fixed effects models and mediating effect model to disentangle the intricate relationship between social capital and energy poverty, while also elucidating the fundamental mechanisms that underlie this association. This study shows that social capital has an inhibitory effect on energy poverty among residential households, a result substantiated by a series of robustness checks. And social capital can indirectly alleviate households' energy poverty by fostering their borrowing and lending behavior and enhancing their energy service perception. Additionally, the impact of social capital on households' energy poverty exhibits heterogeneity contingent upon their information access, business engagement, and housing conditions. This study contributes significantly to the accurate measurement of the magnitude and distribution of multidimensional energy poverty among residential households in NKEFZs in Northeast China. Furthermore, it offers valuable insights for the design of a social capital framework aimed at reducing household energy poverty.

Rethinking South Africa’s household energy poverty through the lens of off-grid energy transition

ABSTRACT South Africa’s has been battling with energy crisis for many years, and with the ongoing power cuts, the nation has been plunged into darkness experienced almost every day in major cities such as Johannesburg. This paper conceptualises and positions the role of electrical and mechanical energy in food processing and preparation within South Africa’s low-income households. The study aims to understand how households’ choices and decisions made around food access, preparation and storage are affected by energy infrastructure. Urban studies on informality show that energy is a key input in food processing, preparation, and storage. This study focused on the intersection of infrastructure systems and sought to understand the energy needs and livelihoods strategies of South Africa’s low-income households. A secondary focus of this study was on indigent energy policies that supports the provision and access of energy services to indigent households in South Africa. The study adopted a case study approach, low-income households’ energy needs in Alexandra township, Johannesburg. This study utilised in-depth interviews and policy document reviews. Data was analysed using correlation and cross-tabulation methods. Findings reveal that measures adopted by the city authorities in the provisioning and access to infrastructure are largely fragmented and uncoordinated.

Valuing Interventions to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution— Fuelwood, Deforestation, and Health in Rural Nepal

Household energy use, forest and poverty are entangled in developing countries with environmental and health problems. Dependence on wood for cooking fuel generally increases the dependency of poor people on forests. This fuelwood consumption is not only linked to the forest environment, but also to the health of the inhabitants due to indoor air pollution. As the women are exposed more to the smoke pollution than the men, and children are more sensitive to it than adults, the issue of fuel is also linked with the gender and child issues. Fuelwood is the main source of cooking energy in Nepal and will remain so for foreseeable future. About 66 percent of households use wood as the main fuel for cooking. Only about 13 and eight percent households, mostly in urban areas, use kerosene and LPG respectively. The households using biogas as the main fuel is less than two percent [CBS (2002)]. One study shows that over 89 percent of total energy use in Nepal comes from the traditional fuels [ADB (2003)]. Wood and other biomass fuels (crop residues as well as animal dung) can substitute for each other, though most consumers have a general preference for wood over other biomass [FAO (1997)]. With socio-economic development, the fuel used by a household changes to better ones in the fuel-ladder. Everybody likes to maximise their utility by choosing more convenient and prestigious fuel subject to the budget constraint. Climbing the fuel-ladder generally means stepping up from dung cakes or crop residues, fuelwood, kerosene, biogas, LPG and ultimately to the electricity. Moving to the higher steps in the ladder means better respiratory health of the family members due to lower emission.

Understanding the impacts of ecological compensation policies on energy poverty: insights from forest communities in Zhejiang, China

Ecological compensation policies (ECPs) designed to promote sustainable resource usage have seen widespread implementation. However, the intricate interplay between such policies, rural livelihoods, and residential energy consumption within the socioecological system (SES) remains underexplored. Based on household data from forest communities in Zhejiang, China, this study investigates the impact of a forest ECP on local household energy poverty through the mediating effect of household livelihood and energy consumption structure. The results reveal a significant reduction in the risk of energy poverty attributable to the policy. This effect is mediated by the improvement in household livelihood outcomes and the modernization of energy consumption patterns, both individually and collectively following the implementation of the policy. Such impacts vary across regions and population groups. We recommend improving support systems and fostering livelihoods and energy transitions to achieve long-term sustainable goals.

Inflation and distributional impacts: Have mitigation policies been successful for vulnerable and energy poor households?

The aim of this paper is to assess the distributional impact of the 2021–23 price increase on Italian household expenditure and energy poverty. Using the microsimulation model developed by the Italian Parliamentary Budget Office, the analysis provides a comprehensive assessment of the uneven impact of inflation across the population and measures how mitigation policies have compensated for this impact. In particular, we focus on vulnerable households to examine whether energy poverty has been affected by the rise in energy prices and to what extent policies have succeeded in protecting these families. Our main findings show that in 2022, mitigation policies have stabilised the impact of inflation by compensating households for almost half of the effect of the price shock on their expenditure. Although not particularly well targeted at energy-poor households, the mitigation policies have protected households from a worsening of their energy vulnerability. However, the reduction of support measures adopted in 2023 is expected to increase the area of vulnerability, including households that are particularly sensitive to high energy costs. Finally, the behavioural response of households was also considered by estimating price elasticities of energy demand and measuring their impact on the simulated scenarios using a sensitivity approach.

Analysis of energy poverty in Andean rural households and design of an efficient cooking solution using biomass

This work explores energy poverty in the rural households surrounding the Chimborazo Faunal Production Reserve (RPFCH) and proposes an efficient cooking solution using firewood. Energy poverty was evaluated through the multidimensional poverty index (MEPI), including the 10% rule, hidden energy poverty, disproportionate expenses, and a subjective analysis of housing conditions. The research found ten households experiencing moderate energy poverty with a MEPI of 0,1562. An efficient cooking solution was proposed as an improved rocket stove design with an ignition system and forced air at the combustion chamber inlet. This stove utilizes a solar panel and batteries to power the fan. Its thermal efficiency is 13%, including Peltier cells to convert residual heat into DC electricity. The rocket stove's heating capacity is 1,6 kW, which is sufficient for heating a small room and cooking meals. After implementation, a follow-up energy poverty analysis using the same indicators is recommended to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed solution and its impact on reducing energy poverty. Keywords: energy poverty; rocket stove; thermal efficiency; room heating; Peltier cell; photovoltaic energy.

Analysis of energy poverty in Andean rural households and design of an efficient cooking solution using biomass

This work explores energy poverty in the rural households surrounding the Chimborazo Faunal Production Reserve (RPFCH) and proposes an efficient cooking solution using firewood. Energy poverty was evaluated through the multidimensional poverty index (MEPI), including the 10% rule, hidden energy poverty, disproportionate expenses, and a subjective analysis of housing conditions. The research found ten households experiencing moderate energy poverty with a MEPI of 0,1562. An efficient cooking solution was proposed as an improved rocket stove design with an ignition system and forced air at the combustion chamber inlet. This stove utilizes a solar panel and batteries to power the fan. Its thermal efficiency is 13%, including Peltier cells to convert residual heat into DC electricity. The rocket stove's heating capacity is 1,6 kW, which is sufficient for heating a small room and cooking meals. After implementation, a follow-up energy poverty analysis using the same indicators is recommended to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed solution and its impact on reducing energy poverty. Keywords: energy poverty; rocket stove; thermal efficiency; room heating; Peltier cell; photovoltaic energy.

Household energy poverty and trajectories of emotional and behavioural difficulties in children and adolescents: findings from two prospective cohort studies

PurposeThe aim of this study is to examine the association between household energy poverty (EP) and trajectories of emotional and behavioural difficulties during childhood.MethodsThe Growing up in Ireland study is two nationally representative prospective cohorts of children. The Infant Cohort (n = 11,134) were recruited at age 9 months (9 m) and followed up at 3, 5, 7 and 9 years (y). The Child Cohort (n = 8,538) were recruited at age 9 y and followed up at 13 y and 17/18 y. EP was a composite of two relative measures of EP. Emotional and behavioural difficulties were repeatedly measured using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). Linear spline multilevel models were used, adjusted for confounders to examine the association between (1) EP (9 m or 3 y) and trajectories of emotional and behavioural difficulties from 3 to 9 y in the Infant Cohort and (2) EP at 9 y and the same trajectories from 9 to 18 y in the Child Cohort.ResultsIn adjusted analyses, EP at 9 m or 3 y of age was associated with higher total difficulties score at 3 y (0.66, 95% CI 0.41, 0.91) and 5 y (0.77, 95% CI 0.48, 1.05) but not at 7 y or 9 y. EP at 9 y was associated with higher total difficulties score at 9 y (1.73, 95% CI 1.28, 2.18), with this difference reducing over time leading to 0.68 (95% CI 0.19, 1.17) at 17/18 y.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates a potential association between early life EP and emotional and behavioural difficulties that may be transient and attenuate over time during childhood. Further studies are required to replicate these findings and to better understand if these associations are causal.

Double-Skin Facades for Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency in Mediterranean Climate Buildings: Rehabilitating Vulnerable Neighbourhoods

The ongoing global energy crisis in Europe has intensified energy poverty in vulnerable households, prompting a critical examination of passive retrofit strategies for improving the habitability of obsolete social housing in southern Europe from the 1960s. Given the Mediterranean climate’s characteristics (hot summers and mild winters), these buildings possess low thermal resistance envelopes designed for heat dissipation in summer but contribute to elevated heating demands in colder months. In response to the pressing need for solutions that strike a balance between reducing energy demand and ensuring year-round comfort, this research explores diverse approaches. Drawing insights from built prototypes in Colombia and Hungary and utilizing a validated simulation model in Seville, Spain, this study investigates the feasibility of implementing a double-skin envelope on building facades and assesses the impact of thermal insulation in the air chamber. So, the research specifically aims to find an equilibrium between lowering energy demand and maintaining adequate comfort conditions, concentrating on the renovation of obsolete social housing with envelopes featuring low thermal resistance in the Mediterranean climate. Results indicate that, due to the poor thermal envelope, the influence of thermal insulation on comfort conditions and energy savings outweighs that of the double skin. Consequently, the emphasis of renovation projects for this climate should not solely concentrate on passive cooling strategies but should strive to achieve a positive balance in comfort conditions throughout the year, encompassing both warm and cold months.

Impacts of workplace automation on energy poverty: The new challenge of achieving SDG 7 in the context of technological revolution

This paper systematically examines how workplace automation impacts energy poverty from a demand-side perspective, revealing a new challenge for Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) in the context of technological revolution. Our research demonstrates that workplace automation significantly increases household energy poverty. This finding is robust when using the instrumental variable approach to tackle endogeneity, as well as employing different automation and energy poverty measures, placebo tests, and machine learning methods for robustness checks. Automation's impact mechanism is that it reduces people's income and work-related social capital, thus exposing households to higher risks of energy poverty. Moreover, its consequences are more prominent for rural households, less educated people, non-migrants, those without labor contracts, non trade-union members, and out-of-system workers. Thus enhancing human capital, promoting free movement of workers, and providing better labor protection contribute to weakening the adverse impact of the technological shock. Meanwhile, we find that improving the price reasonability, stability, security and accessibility of energy supply can also mitigate the negative effects of workplace automation on household energy consumption. In the dual context of the fourth technological revolution promoting industrial automation as well as the increasing urgency to achieve SDG 7, findings of this paper have important policy implications.

Income distribution and sustainable development nexus: Fostering poverty reduction and integrated sustainability amidst multi-dimensional regional integration

This study investigates the impact of income distribution as poverty reduction on sustainable development (SD), by taking the moderating role multidimensional regional integration (MRII) in fostering the integrated sustainability across 64 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries from 2005 to 2020. Utilising Sys-GMM methodology, the findings support the notion that countries within the BRI are theoretically aligned with a sustainable development path as suggested by economic theory. Moreover, MRII significantly contributes to the integrated sustainability path. The direct channel analysis reveals a negative yet significant effect of income distribution on sustainable development, indicating an increase in disparity and capital management system. Conversely, the indirect channel suggests a reduction in disparity and regionally integrated BRI boost the sustainable poverty reduction. This study identifies positive contributions from macroeconomic conditions, institutional quality, and population size to BRI countries' sustainable development. Additionally, it suggests the inefficient utilisation of resources by BRI countries, particularly in government consumption. The study underscores the need for enhanced regional policies aimed at increasing income and reducing poverty to foster sustainable development. Upcoming research should investigate the unexplored effects of household consumption, financial inclusion, financial aid, and energy poverty influence on integrated sustainability, regarding global financial integration.

Can information technology construction alleviate household energy poverty? Empirical evidence from the “broadband China” Pilot Policy

Energy poverty poses a significant challenge to global sustainable development. With the rapid advancement of information technology, understanding its role in alleviating energy poverty holds great practical significance. This paper conducts a case study of the “Broadband China” pilot policy implemented by the Chinese government and utilizes panel data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) over the 2012–2018 period. In a difference-in-differences framework, we empirically investigate the alleviation effects of information technology construction on household energy poverty and its underlying mechanisms. The main findings indicate that (1) information technology construction significantly alleviates household energy poverty and demonstrates a sustained alleviation effect. These results remain valid after a series of robustness tests. (2) Heterogeneity analysis suggests that factors such as the regional economic development level and geographical location distribution can cause varying impacts of information technology on alleviating energy poverty. (3) Mechanism analysis reveals that information technology construction can alleviate household energy poverty through two potential channels: raising residents’ income levels and enhancing their environmental awareness. The conclusions of this paper provide valuable insights into leveraging information technology construction to alleviate energy poverty.

Synergistic effects of regional environmental governance on alleviating energy poverty and promoting household decarbonization

Alleviating energy poverty and lowering carbon emissions are two crucial goals that can help achieve sustainable regional development. However, to make this a reality, it is vital to understand the relationship between environmental governance and these goals, especially at the household level. This study utilizes microdata from the 2012–2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) to construct models. We examine the synergies between reducing household energy poverty and emissions mitigation under regional policies, aiming to solve the long-standing energy poverty problem and reduce carbon emissions. Our findings emphasize that China's environmental governance exhibits significant synergies by concurrently addressing household energy security and promoting carbon reductions through integrated policy approaches. The efficacy and synergy depend critically on optimizing energy consumption structure, decreasing carbon intensity, and enabling technological advancement. These insights highlight the importance of top-level government design in balancing energy security and emissions reductions. Recommendations include establishing a robust governance framework to coordinate energy and climate goals while integrating climate and ecological governance regulations. The income-differentiated analysis provides valuable guidance for policymakers seeking to alleviate energy poverty and strengthen decarbonization, underscoring the importance of targeted interventions for disadvantaged households.

Modeling energy consumption to measure energy poverty in households in Buenos Aires (Argentina), 2017-2018

Modeling energy consumption to measure energy poverty in households in Buenos Aires (Argentina), 2017-2018

Internet usage and household energy poverty

Abstract Based on the double critical value method and the data of the China Household Panel Survey from 2014 to 2023, this paper measures the multidimensional relative household energy poverty in China. After confirming the impact of income poverty on energy poverty, this paper explores the formation mechanism of energy poverty from the perspective of opportunity acquisition. It explores the occurrence path of “opportunity access-income poverty-energy poverty” of residents by combining the structural equation model. Finally, the impact of Internet use on energy poverty was investigated through multiple regression analysis. According to the study, China’s official poverty line is about 2.0 US dollars, and the energy poverty line has increased by 49.6% in 2022 compared with 197.2 yuan in 2018. In the empirical analysis of access level and energy poverty, the coefficient of Internet learning is 0.311. Further, adding the moderating effect model regression results of the interaction term shows that the Internet penetration rate has a significant positive impact on multidimensional energy poverty. When it is increased by 1%, the multidimensional energy poverty is reduced by 9.25%.