If a household is unable to attain an acceptable standard of warmth and energy services at an affordable cost it is considered energy poor. Three factors can cause Energy Poverty
- A person's income.
- The energy costs they must pay.
- The energy efficiency of their home.
In Ireland if a household is considered energy poor if it spends more than 10% of their disposable income on energy costs.
On 2 February 2016 the Department launched the new Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty in Ireland. A version of the strategy was also releasaed in irish. Straitéis chun Tearcrochtain Fuinnimh a Chomhrac.
The strategy builds on the progress and experience developed over the last four years since the publication of the first ever Government strategy on Affordable Energy. It expands the reach of existing energy efficiency schemes. It also commits the Government to developing and piloting new measures to find more effective ways to focus energy efficiency efforts on those most at risk of energy poverty. It also puts in place the structures and the accountability to ensure that the challenge is effectively addressed at every level of Government and public service. Accompanying the strategy is an assessment of the level of energy poverty in Ireland using the objective methodology.
Did you know?
A family in an energy inefficient home can pay over €4000 to keep their homes adequately warm. Improving the energy efficiency of their house can potentially reduce their energy bill by as much as €2000!
The Society of St Vincent de Paul