Energy poverty refers to the struggle faced by households to afford essential energy services, like heating, cooling, and electricity. Multiple factors, including low-income levels, high energy prices, and unemployment, drive this issue. Economic inequality further widens the gap, with wealthier households accessing energy-efficient technologies while lower-income households bear higher relative energy costs.
Moreover, inadequate infrastructure, particularly in older or rural homes, leads to higher energy consumption due to poor insulation. Insufficient government programs exacerbate the problem, as vulnerable groups lack access to energy efficiency improvements. Environmental factors like climate change also contribute to rising energy demand during extreme weather events, stressing energy systems and increasing costs.
The health impacts are profound, with cold, damp homes increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, energy poverty takes a toll on mental well-being, contributing to anxiety, stress, and social isolation, particularly among the elderly and low-income households. The long-term consequences include reduced economic productivity, higher healthcare costs, and worsened social inequalities.
In this flashcard-style short publication, we present 25 causes fueling the energy poverty crisis, 16 health effects connected to energy poverty, and 6 far-reaching effects of energy poverty.
The flashcard-style short publication is available in English and you may download it below.