Household Sharing for Carbon and Energy Reductions: The Case of EU Countries

Abstract

As households get smaller worldwide, the extent of sharing within households reduces, resulting in rising per capita energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This article examines for the first time the differences in household economies of scale across EU countries as a way to support reductions in energy use and GHG emissions, while considering differences in effects across consumption domains and urban-rural typology. A country-comparative analysis is important to facilitate the formulation of context-specific initiatives and policies for resource sharing. We find that one-person households are most carbon- and energy-intensive per capita with an EU average of 9.2 tCO2eq/cap and 0.14 TJ/cap, and a total contribution of about 17% to the EU’s carbon and energy use. Two-person households contribute about 31% to the EU carbon and energy footprint, while those of five or more members add about 9%. The average carbon and energy footprints of an EU household of five or more is about half that of a one-person average household, amounting to 4.6 tCO2eq/cap and 0.07 TJ/cap. Household economies of scale vary substantially across consumption categories, urban-rural typology and EU countries. Substantial household economies of scale are noted for home energy, real estate services and miscellaneous services such as waste treatment and water supply; yet, some of the weakest household economies of scale occur in high carbon domains such as transport. Furthermore, Northern and Central European states are more likely to report strong household economies of scale—particularly in sparsely populated areas—compared to Southern and Eastern European countries. We discuss ways in which differences in household economies of scale may be linked to social, political and climatic conditions. We also provide policy recommendations for encouraging sharing within and between households as a contribution to climate change mitigation.

The unequal distribution of household carbon footprints in Europe and its link to sustainability

“…In order to reduce trade-offs between social and environmental goals, policies should target changes in higher-order need satisfiers, such as social structures and practices, and reimagine forms of need satisfaction within environmental constraints (Mattioli, 2016). Redesigning consumption practices (Ivanova et al , 2020), public spaces and social structures through voluntary simplicity (Jackson, 2005; Vita et al , 2020) and sharing (Ivanova & Büchs, 2020) may reconcile lower carbon emissions and higher well-being. Collective solutions and investment in social infrastructure (see universal basic services; Coote et al , 2019) hold potential to deliver the social services necessary for human well-being in coherence with the principles of equity, efficiency, solidarity and sustainability (Coote et al , 2019).…”

Characterizing the energy use of disabled people in the European Union towards inclusion in the energy transition

“…Other socio-demographic trends. Income, household size, population density and age have been shown to have important implications for energy use and associated GHG emissions 7,37,38 . a, Households living below the poverty line or at risk of poverty and social exclusion have below 60% of the national median disposable income 55 , excluding Italy due to missing income data.…”

Material flows and GHG emissions from housing stock evolution in US counties, 2020–60

“…Building smaller homes is necessary to limit the growth of m 2 /cap, but by itself may at best achieve only minor reductions. More ambitious reductions of m 2 /cap would require additional strategies such as increases in household size (Ivanova & Büchs 2020) or conversion of large single-family homes into multiple housing units (Garcia et al 2020).…”