STEP-IN started with an extensive level of background research to identify rates and factors related to energy poverty in the three living lab locations. These factors included housing quality and ownership, energy sources and social factors. This background work took the form of either drawing on pre-existing study data or data collected via a baseline survey. In addition to identifying issues the background research also assisted in the market segmentation aspects.
STEP-IN developed and implemented living labs in three European countries (UK, Greece and Hungary). The methodology was adapted to local circumstances, and included home and remote visits, focus groups, ICT tools benchmarking and energy cafes. The consumers involved in the living labs received advice on a range of topics including bills, supplier switching, energy-saving behavioural changes, sources of further advice and support, energy and energy efficiency and refurbishment schemes (ranging from ‘small measures’ such as energy efficient lightbulbs, to larger measures such as insulation and new upgraded heating systems). They were also referred to other relevant programmes. As a result of the living labs, STEP-IN is estimated to have directly improved the quality of life of an estimated 1,085 people (564 households) in the UK, 860 people (190 households) in Greece, and 793 people (307 households) in Hungary. In total STEP-IN is estimated to have reached more than 13,000 people. Examples of benefits for citizens include reductions in energy bills (an average reduction of 8.47% in the UK across all three LL rounds) and in Greece estimated energy saving of 518,000 kWhth per year (6.2% saving average across all three LL rounds). In Hungary, modest overall consumption increases occurred although STEP-IN actions are estimated to have reduced consumption by an average of 5.3% across all three rounds. CO2 reductions are estimated at 114.5 tons per year in the mountainous LL. Subjective feedback from people assisted found that STEP-IN was beneficial and improved their quality of life. For example, in the UK the percentage of participating households who reported being unable to pay their bills on time reduced by more than half during the first and second iterations of the living labs. In Greece, more than 40% of the households who participated in the LL and were faced with arrears in energy bills said that STEP-IN helped them to avoid this problem. In Hungary 15.3 percent of the households felt improvement in arrears. There were huge differences between the target groups regarding this positive impact. More than 20 percent of the Roma and households with 3+ children reported improvement in arrears, but this number was close to zero in the case of single pensioners (most of them didn’t have arrears). In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, STEP-IN adapted its mainly face-to-face approach of assisting citizens to one which relied more on remote assistance. The pandemic had a negative impact on the citizens with many facing increased energy bills and lower incomes.
An extensive dissemination campaign was undertaken including a project video and leaflets through to organising a conference, working group meetings and summer/winter schools. Despite Covid-19, the online participation at many events remained high. This was complemented by an active external network of interest and working groups. Six policy white papers were published, each one targeting a specific group. Over the longer- term, the training provided by STEP-IN will help to shape how energy advice is provided. Some dissemination highlights include the fact that the Greek advice leaflet has been disturbed to the 331 municipalities in Greece, 15 scientific publications as articles in journals, books/monographs and conference publications, as well as the creation of a multi-stakeholder Network of Interest involving 46 members acting as both external advisors/content providers to the project’s policy recommendations and as dissemination multipliers of the STEP-IN project experiences and results.
