Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EnergyMEASURES (Tailored measures supporting energy vulnerable households)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-06-01 do 2024-02-29
Energy Poverty is a condition predicated upon a combination of high energy prices, low household incomes, inefficient buildings and appliances, and specific household energy needs. Energy poor households in energy poverty are faced with the choice of using an above-average portion of their income on heat, light, cooling, cooking and appliance use; or going without these essentials, resulting in a cold and uncomfortable home and reduced living standards. The consequences include significant deteriorations in people’s physical health and mental well-being, along with premature death related to severe seasonal conditions, as well as more restricted lifestyles and social exclusion.
There are around 50 million European citizens belonging to households that are unable to meet basic energy needs. Many more are at risk of falling into this dangerous predicament depending on personal and socio-economic circumstances, as we saw quite markedly during the 2021–23 global energy crisis. The overall objective of the EnergyMeasures project was to contribute to addressing energy poverty in seven European countries, namely: BE, BG, IE, MK, NE, PL, UK.
The objective was achieved through two strands of work – direct household engagements that were complemented and informed by policy and practice innovations. The main focus of the project involved identifying, engaging and working with energy poor households to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their energy precarity. This was realised through a combination of deploying low-cost energy measures, and helping participating to make effective changes in their energy-related behaviours.
Along with this household engagement, the project also worked with municipalities, energy authorities, housing associations and other relevant actors to understand how institutional contexts affect efforts to alleviate energy vulnerability in the participating countries. Cognisant of the gendered nature of people’s relationship with energy and their lived experience of energy poverty, EnergyMeasures worked to integrate consideration of gender throughout its work and to mainstream this approach.
There are around 50 million European citizens belonging to households that are unable to meet basic energy needs. Many more are at risk of falling into this dangerous predicament depending on personal and socio-economic circumstances, as we saw quite markedly during the 2021–23 global energy crisis. The overall objective of the EnergyMeasures project was to contribute to addressing energy poverty in seven European countries, namely: BE, BG, IE, MK, NE, PL, UK.
The objective was achieved through two strands of work – direct household engagements that were complemented and informed by policy and practice innovations. The main focus of the project involved identifying, engaging and working with energy poor households to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their energy precarity. This was realised through a combination of deploying low-cost energy measures, and helping participating to make effective changes in their energy-related behaviours.
Along with this household engagement, the project also worked with municipalities, energy authorities, housing associations and other relevant actors to understand how institutional contexts affect efforts to alleviate energy vulnerability in the participating countries. Cognisant of the gendered nature of people’s relationship with energy and their lived experience of energy poverty, EnergyMeasures worked to integrate consideration of gender throughout its work and to mainstream this approach.
The initial preparatory work around household engagement, included the developing approaches to identifying, and protocols for engaging, energy poor households. Building on this work, country-specific implementation plans were prepared for the recruitment and engagement of participant households. A lot of effort was also expended on building capacity within the consortium, through the development of guidance documents, provision of training, and through peer learning. All of which was aimed to ensure that partners were adequately equipped to engage participants on both the physical attributes of their house, but also importantly of their lived experience of energy.
Energy advisors engaged participating householders to both understand the energy performance of their dwellings and appreciate their energy-related practices and behaviours. This developed understanding was used to inform the preparation of tailored energy advice supporting householders to understand and change their energy-related practices, habits and behaviours. It also informed the selection of targeted small energy conservation and energy efficiency measures for deployment to the households. Ongoing support was provided (advice, guidance, assistance with grant applications, etc.) to the participants over the duration of the project. By the conclusion of the project, some 3,908 households – with over 9,200 residents – were recruited to participate in the project. Across each of the participating countries, there were substantial reductions in energy consumption, with average annualised primary energy savings across the project estimated at 4,091 kWh per household.
In the institutional focused strand of the project, substantial desk studies were undertaken on the energy and energy poverty policy context, and stakeholders from across the policy domain were engaged through interviews and focus groups. This engagement, informed by the knowledge of the partners, provided a review of EU and national policy on energy vulnerabilities, and contributed to the development of an overview of citizens’ perspective on energy policy needs. Following this initial foundational work, in-depth engagement of key stakeholders formed the basis of an exploration of emerging innovative governance and business instruments to address energy poverty. This work focused on various entities attempting to change structural conditions that perpetuate energy vulnerability. Three workshops were undertaken using a business modelling approach as a heuristic to characterise and understand initiatives in BG, IE & NL. Building on these preceding policy tasks, a proposed agenda for policy renewal was developed through a series of policy workshops undertaken with key policy actors.
The work of EnergyMeasures was communicated and disseminated widely. This included web site, social media, videoes, newsletters, popular publications, project workshops and seminars, contributions to academic conferences, open access publications, joint event with other projects, national policy briefings and a final project workshop. An edited volume entitled “Living with Energy Poverty Perspectives from the Global North and South” (Routledge 2023) developed from two conference panels organised in the context of EnergyMeasures. Three open-access chapters from this book directly present work from EnergyMeasures, and offer a strong pillar of the project’s C&D efforts.
Energy advisors engaged participating householders to both understand the energy performance of their dwellings and appreciate their energy-related practices and behaviours. This developed understanding was used to inform the preparation of tailored energy advice supporting householders to understand and change their energy-related practices, habits and behaviours. It also informed the selection of targeted small energy conservation and energy efficiency measures for deployment to the households. Ongoing support was provided (advice, guidance, assistance with grant applications, etc.) to the participants over the duration of the project. By the conclusion of the project, some 3,908 households – with over 9,200 residents – were recruited to participate in the project. Across each of the participating countries, there were substantial reductions in energy consumption, with average annualised primary energy savings across the project estimated at 4,091 kWh per household.
In the institutional focused strand of the project, substantial desk studies were undertaken on the energy and energy poverty policy context, and stakeholders from across the policy domain were engaged through interviews and focus groups. This engagement, informed by the knowledge of the partners, provided a review of EU and national policy on energy vulnerabilities, and contributed to the development of an overview of citizens’ perspective on energy policy needs. Following this initial foundational work, in-depth engagement of key stakeholders formed the basis of an exploration of emerging innovative governance and business instruments to address energy poverty. This work focused on various entities attempting to change structural conditions that perpetuate energy vulnerability. Three workshops were undertaken using a business modelling approach as a heuristic to characterise and understand initiatives in BG, IE & NL. Building on these preceding policy tasks, a proposed agenda for policy renewal was developed through a series of policy workshops undertaken with key policy actors.
The work of EnergyMeasures was communicated and disseminated widely. This included web site, social media, videoes, newsletters, popular publications, project workshops and seminars, contributions to academic conferences, open access publications, joint event with other projects, national policy briefings and a final project workshop. An edited volume entitled “Living with Energy Poverty Perspectives from the Global North and South” (Routledge 2023) developed from two conference panels organised in the context of EnergyMeasures. Three open-access chapters from this book directly present work from EnergyMeasures, and offer a strong pillar of the project’s C&D efforts.
EnergyMeasures has demonstrated that combining a selection of small energy measures with energy advice and support tailored to the circumstances of individual households can result in significant savings that go beyond the state-of-the-art. Not only did the project provide individualised support and tailored energy-use advice to households, but is also differentiated by its focus on energy practices.
A novel household support pilot programme for vulnerable householders funded by an energy company was developed and implemented within the context of EnergyMeasures. The initiative was launched in the first quarter of 2023, it involves the provision of smart controllers for heating and water; survey for, and installation of attic and cavity insulation where appropriate; and where necessary replacement of old gas boilers for a limited number of cases. In total, 135 households were assisted by this pilot programme, representing a meaningful investment by the energy company. A follow-on initiative in at an advanced planning stage and talks are ongoing with another energy company on learning from the experience of this pilot.
The implemented household energy engagement programmes directly engaged with 3,908 energy poor households in seven countries, representing approximately 10k consumers. The project has resulted in good case studies that will provide valuable lessons that can be (and have already been) transferred elsewhere. The participating households average annualised primary energy savings across the focal countries is estimated at 4,091 kWh per household. (note: While the 2021–23 global energy crisis was without doubt a major motivational context for the observed fall in energy consumption, the support provided through EnergyMeasures play a large role in enabling these energy savings within this wider context).
A novel household support pilot programme for vulnerable householders funded by an energy company was developed and implemented within the context of EnergyMeasures. The initiative was launched in the first quarter of 2023, it involves the provision of smart controllers for heating and water; survey for, and installation of attic and cavity insulation where appropriate; and where necessary replacement of old gas boilers for a limited number of cases. In total, 135 households were assisted by this pilot programme, representing a meaningful investment by the energy company. A follow-on initiative in at an advanced planning stage and talks are ongoing with another energy company on learning from the experience of this pilot.
The implemented household energy engagement programmes directly engaged with 3,908 energy poor households in seven countries, representing approximately 10k consumers. The project has resulted in good case studies that will provide valuable lessons that can be (and have already been) transferred elsewhere. The participating households average annualised primary energy savings across the focal countries is estimated at 4,091 kWh per household. (note: While the 2021–23 global energy crisis was without doubt a major motivational context for the observed fall in energy consumption, the support provided through EnergyMeasures play a large role in enabling these energy savings within this wider context).