Engaging citizens in Energy Poverty in Croatia Slavica Robić, MSc

Transcription

1 Engaging citizens in Energy Poverty in Croatia Slavica Robić, MSc

2 About DOOR NGO, founded in 2003 in Zagreb, Croatia About 60 members, 20 volunteers, 2 interns, 7 employees Sustainable energy development Transition to Low-Carbon Society Alleviating Energy Poverty

3 Causes and consequences of energy poverty Causes: Lack of finances, inability to improve EE and to afford adequate energy services Consequences Cold (or too hot) and damp homes, debt, disconnections, sickness, hunger, excessive winter deaths Energy poor typically come from vulnerable groups, live in inefficient homes with inadequate energy services

4 What can we do? Changing policy is a challenging and timely task Decision makers detached from reality Poorly designed policies Need for real life stories, financial assessments and cost-benefit analyses + pressure from media and society

5 What did we do? NGOs -> advocacy + engaging citizens EU funded projects Volunteers visited more than 400 energy poor households (397 in Sisak-Moslavina County and 50 in City of Zagreb)

6 Importance of engaging citizens Gathering evidence field work! Presenting reality of life to decision makers Combining science and civic action Roundtables, conferences, national and regional reports, policy recommendations Involving academia (joined project proposals) Educating and motivating citizens Media!!!

7 A glimpse into Croatian reality Projects REACH, and WKtWH Analysis of legislation and field work 397 (+50) field visits in Croatia done by volunteers Country analyses for other Balkan countries available in the Report Health and socio-economic status + energy aspects of households

8 Gathering evidence and informing public through media Presenting the problem Demonstrating the solution

9 A glimpse into Croatian reality Household members 43.8% 20.9% 18.8% 13.0% 3.6% 1% Building type 11% 88% Family house Apartment Other One Two 3 to 5 Six 9 or more 2% Age of dwelling 3% 19% 43% 16% 17% 4% 4% 1% 6 to 25 years 26 to 35 years 36 to 60 years Over 60 years Don't know No answer 91% Insulation None Partially Walls and roof Don't know No answer

10 A glimpse into Croatian reality Heating System 7% 7% Central heating District heating 86% Single source/furnace Average electricity consumption: kwh/year In 2012 national average was kwh/year and average for Sisak-Moslavina County was kwh/year* Average heat consumption: kwh/year In 2012 national average was kwh /year and average for Sisak-Moslavina County was kwh/year*

11 A glimpse into Croatian reality Draught through windows 60.00% 70.00% Mould 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% Yes No Partially No answer 10.00% 0.00% Adverse impacts on health! Yes No No answer

12 A glimpse into Croatian reality

13 Sending the message - adjusting policy response Low levels of energy efficiency of dwelling and heating systems: deteriorated buildings High prevalence od damp and continuous exposure to cold Draught through widows and doors Decreased living space in winter Overall inadequate energy services Immediate action is needed to enable more people to become active members of society and, by removing adverse health culprits, directly decrease national health care costs. It also protects the environment and climate Investing in the alleviation of energy poverty means improving the economy and decreasing energy import dependency.

14 Sending the message - adjusting policy response The energy efficiency of dwellings and of household appliances, while improving the heating and ventilation systems is the most effective and sustainable approach to alleviating energy poverty Energy poverty is a cross-sector issue which requires immediate action from both social and energy actors Energy poverty is a social issue requiring primarily technical energy solutions followed by financial support mechanisms

15 Recommendations Continue discussions to adopt measurable definitions of energy poverty at the national, regional and EU level Develop and adopt national, regional and EU wide indicators for monitoring energy poverty Improve data collection based on selected indicators Undertake detailed analysis of the problem at the national level in collaboration with national bureaus of statistics Ensure publicly available and easily accessible national statistics data on energy expenditures and living conditions Improve definitions of vulnerable groups at national, regional and EU level

16 Recommendations Energy efficiency as key to solving (energy) poverty Low-cost energy efficiency and energy saving measures Replacement of household appliances ( old for new ) Different levels of building retrofitting + heating Subsidies for energy efficiency: high co-funding + support system for filling out the paperwork (minimizing bureaucracy) No-interest loans (mainly for deep renovation) Refurbishment of all state-owned social housing Energy literacy campaigns for vulnerable groups Civic action and cross- sector collaboration are necessary for success!

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21 Thank you for your attention! Special thanks to all of the volunteers and partners from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia who have made research possible. Results presented in Glimpse into reality section include combined efforts done through projects REACH, REACH CEI as well as South East Europe Sustainable Energy Policy and With knowledge to warm home. For more information on Energy Poverty in SEE visit For Croatia (available in Croatian only) visit Contact: Slavica Robić, MSc Program Director at Society for Sustainable Development Design (DOOR) Trg kralja Petra Krešimira IV. 2, Zagreb, Croatia T. 01/ E.