New BPIE study: Alleviating Fuel Poverty in the EU

The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has published a new report that should be mandatory reading for all EiD followers.

While the topic comes up regularly, we are getting nowhere to resolving the issue of fuel poverty. As the new BPIE report explains, fuel poverty is a major problem in and for Europe. In 2012, 10.8% of the total European population was unable to keep their home adequately warm, increasing to 24.4% when referring to low-income people. The impact on health and our well being is far too damaging and it leads to far too many early deaths. Yet, somehow we have tolerated this unacceptable situation.

Our policy framework to deal with fuel poverty is inadequate. While the report gives some good examples of what some European countries are doing to address fuel poverty, they are not enough. We simply cannot remain with the status quo.

Energy subsidies and direct financial support for household heating are widely used and are incredibly costly but they are not sustainable or provide a long-term solution. They also cause a strain on our already-tight government budgets. However, vigorous energy renovation measures for fuel poor homes can give a sustainable answer to fuel poverty. These are the main findings from the report.

The study describes the current situation of fuel poverty and makes recommendations on how to achieve the social, environmental and energy goals set by the EU for 2020.

The report is available on the BPIE website.