Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 4(9), pp. 789 - 805
DOI: 10.13189/sa.2016.040902
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Energy Poverty: Practical and Structural Solutions for South-East Europe

Lidija Živčič ^1,*, Tomislav Tkalec ¹, Slavica Robić ^2
1 Association for Sustainable Development, Slovenia
² Society for Sustainable Development Design, Croatia

ABSTRACT

Energy poverty poses serious issue in the South- East Europe (SEE). It is estimated that about 30% of households in SEE are struggling with adverse effects of energy poverty. This article presents findings of a research undertaken in four SEE countries, namely Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia, where the project "Reduce Energy Use and Change Habits" (REACH) is implemented. The aim of the project REACH is to contribute to energy poverty abatement at both practical and structural level. Activities undertook within project REACH focus on rationalising the use of energy and water in energy poor households. Households have been provided with tailor-made energy advices, empowering them to change their energy and water use habits. Students and teachers from vocational schools have been educated as energy advisors, enabling them to perform visits to the selected households and implement energy efficiency measures. By implementing activities under the project REACH it has proven to be likely that through provision of energy advising and implementation of simple energy efficiency measures, households' energy consumption can be reduced up to 10% and water consumption up to 18%. Results are also indicating that policies focusing on energy efficiency measures are likely to be the best mechanism for alleviating energy poverty. This is especially the case when energy and social policies are harmonised with the aim of alleviating adverse effects of energy poverty.

KEYWORDS
Energy Efficiency, Energy Poverty, Energy and Water Saving Measures, Energy Poor Households

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Lidija Živčič , Tomislav Tkalec , Slavica Robić , "Energy Poverty: Practical and Structural Solutions for South-East Europe," Sociology and Anthropology, Vol. 4, No. 9, pp. 789 - 805, 2016. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2016.040902.

(b). APA Format:
Lidija Živčič , Tomislav Tkalec , Slavica Robić (2016). Energy Poverty: Practical and Structural Solutions for South-East Europe. Sociology and Anthropology, 4(9), 789 - 805. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2016.040902.