Urban Fuel Poverty

Kristian Fabbri

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9780128169520
• eBook ISBN: 9780128169537
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Human Geography
• Index: Social Sciences

Urban Fuel Poverty describes key approaches to defining and alleviating fuel poverty in cities using a multidisciplinary perspective and multiple case studies. It provides empirical knowledge on the levels and intensities of energy poverty in urban areas, along with new theoretical perspectives in conceptualizing the multidimensionality of energy poverty, with special focus given to the urban environment. Chapters discuss what energy poverty is in terms of taxonomy, stakeholders and affected parties, addressing the role of the economy and energy bills, the role of climate and city factors, the role of buildings, and the health and psychological impact on fuel poverty. The book addresses how to measure energy poverty, how to map it, and how to draw conclusions based on illness and social indicators. Finally, it explores measures to 'fight' fuel poverty, including policy and governance actions, building efficiency improvements and city planning. - Bridges interdisciplinary divides between policy and economy, cities and buildings, and health and society - Addresses the physical performance of urban fuel poverty and their effect on thermal comfort and human health - Provides strategies and policies to mitigate energy and fuel poverty

Part 1

What is energy fuel poverty

Outline

1. Chapter 1. Fuel poverty definition: from a conceptual review to a more comprehensive definition
2. Chapter 2. Role of economy and income to fall in energy poverty: policy act
3. Chapter 3. Role of climate and city pattern
4. Chapter 4. The role of building in the reduction of fuel poverty
5. Chapter 5. Health impact of fuel poverty

Chapter 1

Fuel poverty definition

from a conceptual review to a more comprehensive definition

Victoria Pellicer-Sifres ^{1 , 2 1} Fundació Las Naves (València) ² Ingenio (CSIC – Universitat Politècnica de València)

Abstract

While the concern for energy poverty has recently been gaining attention in the spheres of academia, politics, and social indignation; the debate on the definition is still open and being revised. This chapter argues that the act of defining energy poverty implicitly implies a political positioning, and it aims to offer elements of reflection as a first step toward a definition more aligned with people's needs and aspirations. To this end, the chapter is divided into three sections. In the first, a review of the concepts of energy/fuel poverty is offered. The second section offers, from a critical perspective, a wider reflection on the use of the terms, on the meanings behind each definition, and on the absence —in the energy poverty debate— of the voices of the people who are affected. The third and final section of the chapter concludes with a suggestion of an alternative and more inclusive definition.

Keywords

Energy poverty; Fuel poverty; Definition; Causes; Consequences

1. 1.1 Introduction: the importance of definition
2. 1.2 A review of conceptualisations of energy poverty: exploring definitions, causes and consequences
3. 1.3 Critical reflections on key issues emerging from conceptualization
   1. 1.3.1 Why words matter? Different terms, different meanings
   2. 1.3.2 Why definitions matter? The importance of mentioning causes and consequences
   3. 1.3.3 Why the voices of affected people matter
4. 1.4 Conclusion: advancing toward a more comprehensive conceptualization
5. References

1.1. Introduction: the importance of definition

The concern for energy poverty has recently been gaining attention in the spheres of academia, politics, and social indignation throughout the various countries of Europe (Bouzarovski, 2014). To a greater or lesser extent, all these spheres look at, and take as a reference, the work that has been carried out for more than 25 years in the United Kingdom, where the phenomenon of fuel—or energy—poverty has been researched from different angles. A wide range of research has been undertaken to reflect on the definition of fuel poverty (Moore, 2012; Thomson et al., 2016), its measurement (Hills, 2012; Liddell et al., 2012), the impact on people's daily lives (Anderson et al., 2012; Brunner et al., 2012), and policies to combat it (Bouzarovski et al., 2012; Middlemiss et al., 2018).

The debate on this definition is still open and being revised. In fact, according to Thomson et al. (2016: 9), just four of the twenty-eight EU countries currently have an official definition of fuel poverty (the United Kingdom, France, the Republic of Ireland, and more recently, Slovakia), nor does the European Union have its own definition.

Be that as it may, the fact is that awareness of energy poverty is growing rapidly across Europe. Consequently, the issue is being increasingly integrated within the activities of the European Union, as evidenced by the new European energy legislative framework “Clean Energy for All Europeans package”, published in 2018. Furthermore, another example of this trend was the launch of the European Union Energy Poverty Observatory, in January 2018 (EPOV, 2018), which stands out as an important action to encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration between policymakers, practitioners and academics in this field all over Europe.

Thus, it could be considered that the present time is a key moment to firmly position the concept of energy poverty in European political agendas, especially in those countries that have recently “awakened” and have demonstrated a willingness to combat energy poverty. At the same time, it is important to undertake this endeavor with a conscious reflection about which terms are used and about what information is provided in this definition, since, as Day et al. (2016: 261) highlight:

Different definitions of energy poverty draw on different understandings of its causes, and thereby point to different sites of intervention.

Defining is adopting a position, explicitly or implicitly, on which is our interpretation of the phenomenon that we are explaining. Defining means, therefore, prioritizing. It entails focusing on just some specific threats from the multiple characteristics that constitute the nature of that phenomenon. When highlighting particular characteristics, others remain hidden. Thus, in the author's point of view, the act of defining energy poverty implicitly implies a political positioning. This chapter aims to offer elements of reflection regarding all of this.

To this end, the chapter is divided into three sections. In the first, a review of the concepts of energy/fuel poverty is offered. As Thomson et al. (2016) mention, there is inconsistent use of the terminology, with the terms ‘energy poverty’ and ‘fuel poverty’ often being used interchangeably, although they can be treated as distinct terms. In this first part, the chapter opts to use both terms interchangeably, making no distinction between the terms ‘energy’ and ‘fuel’, given the widespread acceptance of both. The second section of the chapter offers, from a critical perspective, a wider reflection on the use of the terms. This is structured into three parts: a reflection on the terms used, a reflection on the meanings behind each definition, and a reflection on the absence—in the energy poverty debate—of the voices of the people who are affected. The third and final section of the chapter concludes with a suggestion of an alternative and more inclusive definition.

1.2. A review of conceptualisations of energy poverty: exploring definitions, causes and consequences

This section presents how energy poverty is being defined, what are recognized...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Contributors
• Biography
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Part 1. What is energy fuel poverty
• Part 2. How to measure fuel poverty
• Part 3. How to act to tackle it
• Index