Britain’s winter fuel support failing to tack high levels of fuel poverty

The billions paid out to pensioner households each winter in Britain are failing to tackle rising levels of fuel poverty, writes Andrew Warren, chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, on the BUSINESS GREEN website. This is an important message for all countries addressing fuel poverty. More quantitative easing than fuel poverty alleviation: The … Continue reading Britain’s winter fuel support failing to tack high levels of fuel poverty →

Being trapped in transport poverty

Study finds drivers in the UK are spending up to a fifth of pre-tax income on running a car as lack of infrastructure deters people from cycling. Peter Walker discusses in an article on The Guardian website. Is the situation in your country the same as in Britain? ‘Entrenched car culture’ leaves millions of … Continue reading Being trapped in transport poverty →

New financial support to address energy poverty in Ireland

Kira Taylor writes on the Euractiv website about new support for people at risk of energy debt and to retrofit low-income homes. Dublin approves plan to tackle energy poverty The government approved on Tuesday its plan to tackle energy poverty and to help the poorest households adequately heat their homes amid cold snaps and … Continue reading New financial support to address energy poverty in Ireland →

New research reveals nearly 9,000 ‘energy crisis hotspots’ in England and Wales

Environmental group Friends of the Earth has found there are 9,000 energy crisis hotspots in England and Wales. These are places where communities are at highest risk of financial hardship because energy use is high and the typical household income is below the national average. In most cases, energy use is high in these areas … Continue reading New research reveals nearly 9,000 ‘energy crisis hotspots’ in England and Wales →

New JRC report – Empowering vulnerable consumers in the energy transition

A new JRC paper examines ways to empower the energy poor and vulnerable consumers as active informed citizens and actors in the energy system, looking at exemplary practices from around Europe. Promising initiatives include energy advisors, trusted intermediaries, locally embedded innovative business models (like one-stop shops), trainings of energy actors, energy ombudsmen, energy cafés and … Continue reading New JRC report – Empowering vulnerable consumers in the energy transition →

Blog from Catrin Maby: How can we regulate for energy efficiency in owner occupied homes? Scotland steps forward

The sharp rise in energy prices this winter has added to the cost of living struggle that many households were already facing across the UK. Our housing is particularly old and thermally inefficient, and the levels of fuel poverty are on the rise again. At the same time, we are painfully aware of the impact … Continue reading Blog from Catrin Maby: How can we regulate for energy efficiency in owner occupied homes? Scotland steps forward →

Inequality is part of the answer as to why there is little action on climate change

Murray Leibbrandt, University of Cape Town and Anda David, Agence française de développement (AFD) argue in an article on The Conversation website that inequality is part of the answer as to why there is little action. Furthermore, reducing inequalities allows us to shift from the gridlock of only talking to the established elite. In turn, … Continue reading Inequality is part of the answer as to why there is little action on climate change →

After a decade of market-driven policy failure, Britain remains the ‘cold man of Europe’

Britain has homes that are older, draughtier and harder to heat than anywhere else in western Europe. The poor are paying for the problem that is much older than the current energy crisis. Caroline Molloy discusses in an article on the Open Democracy website. Putin isn’t to blame for fuel poverty in the UK … Continue reading After a decade of market-driven policy failure, Britain remains the ‘cold man of Europe’ →

During this gas supply crisis “can energy consumers really make a difference?”

Aurore Julien, Senior Lecturer and Research Manager, University of East London writes on The Conversation website, that consumers can make a big difference. Interestingly, Aurore Julien’s PhD covered rapid energy savings to mitigate a natural gas crisis (2014). EiD would like to point out that the Buildings Performance Institute Europe has recently come up with … Continue reading During this gas supply crisis “can energy consumers really make a difference?” →

Fuel poverty: new report compares approaches to energy affordability in the EU and Australia

The EU and Australia have important similarities when it comes to the energy sector, such as a vast grid that crosses jurisdictions and shared governance arrangements. A new report shows what the EU and Australia can learn from each other as they address fuel poverty. Sangeetha Chandrashekeran, Senior Research Fellow, Australian Research Council Centre of … Continue reading Fuel poverty: new report compares approaches to energy affordability in the EU and Australia →