Two European projects explore how housing, energy poverty and inequality can be addressed together to promote affordable, energy-efficient homes without leaving the most vulnerable groups behind.
The housing crisis and energy poverty are closely interconnected in Europe. Almost 10% of the EU population spends more than 40% of their disposable income on housing and utilities, while a similar proportion is unable to keep their home adequately warm.
The European projects PREFIGURE and HouseInc examine how both issues can be integrated into housing policies. PREFIGURE studies local initiatives in eight countries and experiences such as the renovation of vacant homes in Thessaloniki and participatory models for energy-efficient housing in Barcelona. HouseInc, meanwhile, examines how energy costs, market forces, public policies, climate change and access to services influence housing inequalities.
Both projects point towards strategies that go beyond isolated interventions at the household level and also operate at the building and neighbourhood scale. The transition towards more energy-efficient housing requires affordability, public participation, and social needs to be taken into account to prevent environmental improvements from deepening existing inequalities.
