Exploring health impacts of living in energy poverty: case study Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia

Robić, Slavica and Ančić, Branko (2018) Exploring health impacts of living in energy poverty: case study Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia. Energy and buildings, 169. pp. 379-387. ISSN 0378-7788

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.03.080

Abstract

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.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Language: English. - Title in Croatian: Istraživanje zdravstvenih utjecaja življenja u energetskom siromaštvu: studija slučaja Sisačko-moslavačke županije.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Energy efficiency, energy poverty, energy vulnerability, health, households (energetska učinkovitost, energetsko siromaštvo, energetska ranjivost, zdravlje, kućanstva)
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Depositing User: Karolina
Date Deposited: 02 May 2018 09:35
Last Modified: 03 May 2018 08:58
URI: http://idiprints.knjiznica.idi.hr/id/eprint/809

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