Energy efficiency for alleviating energy poverty: yes we can!

Jean-Sébastien Broc (), Bosseboeuf Didier and Bernard Bourges ()
Additional contact information
Jean-Sébastien Broc: ARMINES, Mines Nantes - Mines Nantes
Bosseboeuf Didier: ADEME - Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Énergie
Bernard Bourges: Mines Nantes - Mines Nantes

Post-Print from HAL

Abstract: The current context (economic crisis, energy prices increases) affects more harshly low income households. They face difficulties in many areas (health, employment, etc.) and also with their energy bills. In fact, in countries where fuel poverty is monitored, recent trends show both, an escalation in the number of fuel poor and an aggravation in their situations. Existing literature has emphasised three main causes together with possibilities of action: - income levels --> e.g., direct aid; - energy prices --> e.g., social tariffs; - energy performance of buildings and appliances --> energy efficiency programmes. On short term, direct aid and social tariffs are more effective to help low income households cover their energy burden. However on long term, energy efficiency is more efficient to achieve lasting effects. This paper presents the lessons learnt from four case studies (Brazil, Southern Africa, UK and US) done for the World Energy Council and ADEME. The programmes reviewed were designed for very contrasted situations (urban/rural ; non-OECD countries/OECD countries). Experience feedback includes both: - specific issues reminding that details of implementation should be considered carefully; - general conclusions providing useful recommendations for future programmes. Among these recommendations are the followings: - a core public funding is needed to ensure a continuation in the actions, then a persistence in the results, and to strengthen the confidence of other stakeholders in these programmes to raise additional funding ; - the delivery mechanisms should be a compromise between fairness (higher aids to the most vulnerable) and simplicity (minimising administration costs); - a coordination between a central level (for raising funds and developing technical knowledge) and a local level (for implementation and involving communities --> empowerment) is a success factor.

Keywords: fuel poverty; energy efficiency programmes; facilitation; experience feedback (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-06-06
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Published in Energy efficiency first: The foundation of a low-carbon society, European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, Jun 2011, Presqu’île de Giens, France. pp.491-501

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01220780

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Post-Print from HAL
Bibliographic data for series maintained by CCSD ().