Energy Poverty and Its Indicators: A Multidimensional Framework from Literature

Abstract

People aim for thermal comfort inside their homes. However, this is not achievable for everyone due to several factors, such as low income, poor building envelope, expensive technology, and increased energy costs, thus leading to energy poverty. This work gathers studies regarding energy poverty and its indicators, identified by different authors and considering different regions, techno-economic, governmental, and political considerations. It was observed that renewable energy sources are a good investment in the long term but require a high initial investment. Government policy measures should be applied to mitigate the costs, especially given the increasing requirement for clean energy use in new buildings. There are still many barriers to overcoming energy poverty, and the variables for action are numerous. The best solution passes through the assessment of adequate technological solutions with economic incentives from the government for the most vulnerable individuals that should be identified by region and economic power. Energy poverty is a multidimensional problem that depends on individual characteristics such as households’ income, specific energy needs, and available technologies, as well as external factors such as energy prices, climatic conditions, and energy access. The majority of energy indicators are directly related to economic aspects, whereas social or environmental considerations are only indirectly accounted for.