Opportunities for Promoting Healthy Homes and Long-Lasting Energy-Efficient Behaviour among Families with Children in Portugal

Marta Fonseca Gabriel (), João Pedro Cardoso, Fátima Felgueiras, Joana Azeredo, David Filipe, Peter Conradie, Stephanie Van Hove, Zenaida Mourão, Filippos Anagnostopoulos and Isabel Azevedo
Additional contact information
Marta Fonseca Gabriel: INEGI, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 400, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
João Pedro Cardoso: INEGI, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 400, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Fátima Felgueiras: INEGI, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 400, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Joana Azeredo: INEGI, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 400, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
David Filipe: INEGI, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 400, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Peter Conradie: Imec-Mict-UGent, Ghent University, De Krook, Miriam Makebaplein 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Stephanie Van Hove: Imec-Mict-UGent, Ghent University, De Krook, Miriam Makebaplein 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Zenaida Mourão: INESC TEC, Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Tecnologia e Ciência, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Filippos Anagnostopoulos: IEECP, Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy, Amsterdam Sloterdijk Teleport Towers, Kingsfordweg 151, 1043GR Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Isabel Azevedo: INEGI, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 400, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: Energy poverty vulnerability constitutes a significant concern in Portugal, with 17.5% of the population being unable to keep their home adequately warm. Furthermore, there is evidence that a substantial number of children live in unhealthy homes. This study aims to comprehensively characterise a sample of 101 Portuguese families with children and their homes in order to identify opportunities for actions for promoting long-lasting energy efficiency and environment health-promoting behavioural changes. To accomplish this aim, two tools—a building survey checklist and a questionnaire to participants—were developed and implemented to collect harmonised data on building-specific characteristics and on participants’ socioeconomic status and behaviour. The home visits for recruitment and data collection were conducted from July 2021 to April 2022. The results suggest that, for the population under study, the main opportunities for improvement include: (i) replacing low energy-efficient technologies, with high emission rates, namely those used for heating purposes, with cleaner and more efficient alternatives; (ii) providing citizens with detailed information about their home’s energy use and indoor air quality and (iii) educating the population on the best-practices for reducing indoor air stuffiness, mitigating the risk of hazardous exposures, improving thermal comfort and saving energy.

Keywords: building survey; children’s exposure; designing interventions; energy consumption; indoor air quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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