METHODS OF MEASUREMENT
Energy is essential in all sectors of the economy, in health, agriculture, industry, services, domestic life and recreation. It lacks can lead to prolonged poverty, unemployment and economic crisis.
The first formulation of the definition of energy poverty was made by Boardman in 1991 (Morrison and Shortt, 2008) as “the inability to obtain adequate energy services when the relevant costs exceed 10% of income”.
More specifically, it is stated that: “energy poor households are unable to obtain a satisfactory level of energy services, especially with regard to the issue of heating, without allocating at least 10% of their income”.
This definition, although it has been subject to significant criticism due to the lack of scientific evidence regarding the 10% threshold, is now widely accepted among various researchers and practitioners.
Since 2001, it has been officially used on an annual basis by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) of the United Kingdom, while as part of the Fuel Poverty Strategy, lower temperature limits relating to the “required satisfactory heating regime” have been adopted.
Thus, “In the United Kingdom, a household is defined as energy poor if it needs to spend more than 10% of its income to maintain itself in a required satisfactory heating regime”… as this is considered to be achieved based on guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), where in the main living rooms of a home the temperature should reach 21oC and in the rest 18oC.
MEASURES TO SAVE ENERGY
Remember:
The best energy is the one we don’t spend!
Take care of your social, environmental and energy footprint!
Buy A++ class electrical appliances!
The refrigerator and the stove are by far the most energy-consuming appliances!
Do not leave electrical appliances on stand by and unplug chargers from the outlet, the best energy is the one that is not wasted!
Install a ceiling fan, not an air-conditioner! In addition to saving energy, it is cooler!
Read with natural light and not with artificial light!
Buy indoor and outdoor plants!!
Use low-energy bulbs and save money and energy for you and the environment!
