A global perspective on domestic energy deprivation: Overcoming the energy poverty–fuel poverty binary

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThis paper offers an integrated conceptual framework for the research and amelioration of energy deprivation in the home. It starts from the premise that all forms of energy and fuel poverty -in developed and developing countries alike -are underpinned by a common condition: the inability to attain a socially and materially necessitated level of domestic energy services. We consider the functionings provided by energy demand in the residential domain in order to advance two claims: first, that domestic energy deprivation in its different guises and forms is fundamentally tied to the ineffective operation of the socio-technical pathways that allow for the fulfilment of household energy needs, and as such is best analyzed by understanding the constitution of different energy services (heating, lighting, etc.) in the home. Second, we emphasize the ability of vulnerability thinking to encapsulate the driving forces of domestic energy deprivation via a comprehensive analytical matrix. The paper identifies the main components and implications of energy service and vulnerability approaches as they relate to domestic energy deprivation across the world.

Understanding Energy Poverty, Vulnerability and Justice

“…As climate is underpinned by spatial difference and change over time, some places are thus more likely to face elevated risks. But the impact of climatic differences always occurs in interaction with the characteristics of the built environment including the energy efficiency of homes, heating systems and appliances (Boardman, 2010), the 'flexibility' of heating systems and infrastructures (Buzar, 2007b) and the availability of suitable and cost-effective energy carriers (Bouzarovski & Petrova, 2015). These features are all unevenly distributed across space at a variety of scales and themselves reflect variation in the provision of infrastructural services.…”

Fuel poverty in the UK: beyond heating?

“…Concerns over fuel poverty are ultimately grounded in whether people are able to access the energy services they need for a minimally-decent quality of life (Bouzarovski and Petrova, 2015;Walker and Day, 2012). Many theories of well-being emphasise that 'quality of life' is multidimensional, going beyond only health to also encompass aspects such as social connection, partaking in meaningful work, and expanding knowledge (Alkire, 2002;Finnis, 1980;Nussbaum, 2011;Wolff and De-Shalit, 2007).…”

“…However, more recently a small body of conceptual work has argued that, fundamentally, fuel poverty is an inability to attain sufficient levels of 'essential' energy services (Bouzarovski and Petrova, 2015;Day and Walker, 2014). Under these broader conceptualisations, the 'essential energy services' required to avoid fuel poverty and have a decent quality of life may include, but are not necessarily limited to, space heating.…”

Multiple transformations: theorizing energy vulnerability as a socio-spatial phenomenon

“…Vulnerability thinking allows for the driving forces of domestic energy deprivation to be captured via a temporally dynamic framework that highlights the pathways and risks that capture a household's propensity to become unable of securing inadequate heating, lighting and similar services in the home (Bouzarovski and Petrova 2015). However, the link between energy-related vulnerabilities and transitions is poorly theorized in the social science literatureespecially when it comes to the manner in which processes of socio-technical change create spatially embedded forms of inequality.…”

“…This is particularly true with respect to the driving forces of energy poverty -a condition characterized by the inability of a household to secure materially and socially necessitated levels of energy services in the home. The meaning of the term 'necessitated' in this context is normally derived from relative and capabilities approaches, and normally refers to the level of energy services that enables full participation in the customs and practices that define membership in society, while maintaining a healthy indoor environment (Bouzarovski and Petrova 2015;Day, Walker, and Simcock 2016;Simcock, Walker, and Day 2016). There is evidence to suggest that energy transitions may adversely affect the well-being of social groups susceptible to energy poverty, even if such changes lead to long-term decarbonization of the economy, thus allowing for more efficient and affordable energy use (Jerneck and Olsson 2008;O'Brien and Hope 2010;Romero-Lankao and Dodman 2011).…”