Suchergebnisse

IN ENGLISH: Energy poverty, the inability to access or afford modern energy services and to use them in a socially and culturally acceptable level without adverse impacts on health, is a growing concern. To investigate impacts of living in energy poverty, two sets of field visits and a phone survey have been undertaken (N=394) in Sisak- Moslavina County, Croatia. Data was collected (N=375) on living conditions, energy use and health through a structured survey. The majority of respondents live in uninsulated dwellings (93%) with fuelwood stoves as the only source of heating (78%). Mould and draught are a common sight (57% and 89% respectively). We have found a link between adverse living conditions and poor health proving that current policies are ineffective addressing that issue. During the second round of field visits, all households were provided with simple energy efficiency measures. To test impact of those measures a phone survey (N=60) was undertaken. Respondents have noted improvement in their overall comfort (77%). Significant improvement in quality of life (87%) was attributed to measures implemented. We argue that energy efficiency should be the first step in tacking energy poverty as it improves living conditions while easing the burden of state and household budget. --- IN CROATIAN: Energetsko siromaštvo, nemogućnost pristupa suvremenim energetskim uslugama ili nemogućnost da ih se priušti, te nemogućnost njihove upotrebe na društveno i kulturno prihvatljivoj razini bez štetnih utjecaja na zdravlje, sve je veća briga. Za istraživanje utjecaja življenja u energetskom siromaštvu obavljena su dva kruga terenskih posjeta i telefonska anketa (N = 394) u Sisačko-moslavačkoj županiji, Hrvatska. Prikupljeni su podaci (N = 375) o životnim uvjetima, korištenju energije i zdravlju kroz strukturirano istraživanje. Većina ispitanika živi u neizoliranim stanovima (93%) s pećima na drva kao jedinim izvorom grijanja (78%). Plijesan i propuh česte su pojave (57%, odnosno 89%). Pronašli smo poveznicu između nepovoljnih životnih uvjeta i lošeg zdravlja, što dokazuje da su trenutne politike neučinkovite u rješavanju ovog problema. Tijekom drugoga kruga terenskih posjeta, svim domaćinstvima bile su omogućene jednostavne mjere energetske učinkovitosti. Za ispitivanje utjecaja tih mjera obavljena je telefonska anketa (N = 60). Ispitanici su primijetili poboljšanje njihove ukupne udobnosti (77%). Značajno poboljšanje kvalitete života (87%) pripisano je provedenim mjerama. Smatramo da bi energetska učinkovitost trebala biti prvi korak u borbi protiv energetskog siromaštva jer poboljšava životne uvjete, dok olakšava teret državnog proračuna i kućanstava.

IN ENGLISH: Increases in energy prices pose a significant problem for many families in the Western Balkan region. Energy vulnerable groups in the region are facing adverse impacts on physical and mental health and they are unable to meet their basic needs. It is of utmost importance to find policy solutions which will enable easing of burden for affected households. This chapter examines the policy context and discusses the results of case study analyses undertaken in Balkan countries, with the aim of identifying possible policy solutions to cost effectively tackle energy poverty in the region. --- IN CROATIAN: Povećanje cijena energije predstavlja značajan problem za mnoge obitelji na zapadnom Balkanu. Energetske ranjive skupine u regiji suočene su s nepovoljnim utjecajima na tjelesno i mentalno zdravlje i ne mogu zadovoljiti svoje osnovne potrebe. Vrlo je važno pronaći rješenja koja će omogućiti ublažavanje tereta za pogođena kućanstva. Ovo poglavlje ispituje kontekst politika i raspravlja o rezultatima analize studija slučaja u balkanskim zemljama s ciljem identificiranja mogućih političkih rješenja za učinkovito rješavanje energetskog siromaštva u regiji.

The study analyses the developments of retail energy prices in the EU and the factors driving prices. It also looks at the impact of energy prices on the budgets of European households and how energy costs affect European industry and its competitiveness, particularly for energy intensive industries. The report also provides international comparisons of energy prices and costs. This study provided input to the report on the "Energy prices and costs in Europe" which is part of the Commission's "Clean Energy for All" package. ; peer-reviewed