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Coping with Energy Poverty: Measurements, Drivers, Impacts, and Solutions

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  • George E. Halkos

    (Department of Economics, University of Thessaly, 3833 Volos, Greece)

  • Eleni-Christina Gkampoura

    (Department of Economics, University of Thessaly, 3833 Volos, Greece)

Abstract

Energy is required for socioeconomic development, and the world’s energy needs have significantly increased in the last decades. The lack of energy can have severe impacts on a person’s well-being; therefore, energy access should be ensured for everyone in the world. Energy poverty usually refers to a situation where a household cannot be kept adequately warm, but it is a complex issue with many more aspects. This paper aims to present a comprehensive review of the energy poverty problem, particularly presenting various definitions given in the literature that capture the multi-dimensional nature of the problem and analyzing the different ways of measuring energy poverty (expenditure approach and consensual approach). In addition, the impacts of the problem are identified, including health, socioeconomic, and environmental impacts, as well as the drivers that can worsen energy poverty conditions, such as several household characteristics and various socioeconomic and environmental factors. The situation occurring currently in the world is also presented, including studies that focus on different world regions, and the different solutions that can help address the problem are discussed, including changes to the living environments and the use of new technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • George E. Halkos & Eleni-Christina Gkampoura, 2021. "Coping with Energy Poverty: Measurements, Drivers, Impacts, and Solutions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:10:p:2807-:d:554234
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Patrick Mukumba & Shylet Y. Chivanga, 2023. "An Overview of Renewable Energy Technologies in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa and the Rural Households’ Energy Poverty Coping Strategies," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, March.
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    6. Blanka Tundys & Agnieszka Bretyn & Maciej Urbaniak, 2021. "Energy Poverty and Sustainable Economic Development: An Exploration of Correlations and Interdependencies in European Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-25, November.
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    8. George E. Halkos & Panagiotis-Stavros C. Aslanidis, 2023. "Addressing Multidimensional Energy Poverty Implications on Achieving Sustainable Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-30, April.
    9. Shahzad, Umer & Gupta, Mansi & Sharma, Gagan Deep & Rao, Amar & Chopra, Ritika, 2022. "Resolving energy poverty for social change: Research directions and agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    10. Marta Postuła & Wojciech Chmielewski & Piotr Puczyński & Rafał Cieślik, 2021. "The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on Energy Poverty and Unemployment in Selected European Union Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, September.
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