On the minimal thermal habitability conditions in low income dwellings in Spain for a new definition of fuel poverty

Abstract

Fuel poverty can be defined as "the inability to afford adequate warmth in the home". The concept was firstly developed due to health risks related to cold among low income households. However, in the last few decades, especially since the summer heat wave of 2003 that caused 35,000 deaths across Europe, a lot of research has been conducted about the health risks related to high temperatures.Along with advances in knowledge related to the health risks associated with inadequate temperatures, several directives of the European Commission related to energy regulation urge Member States to develop their own fuel poverty definitions. This need of a methodological development for new definitions poses several questions. First, what should be the temperature thresholds for the overheated season? But, furthermore, are existing temperature baselines adequate for the Spanish context and climate?This paper presents a preliminary approach to define these new temperature thresholds for the Spanish context through the adaptive comfort model criteria. For that purpose, a statistically representative dwelling building typology of vulnerable household spaces was used to analyze indoor thermal temperatures and hence, to establish minimal energy requirements so as to achieve minimal habitability conditions.

Determinants of Variation in Household Energy Choice and Consumption: Case from Mahabad City, Iran

“…In addition, the association between energy consumption and behavioral pattern, cultural differences, and demographic changes like aging was addressed in the study conducted by Muller and Yan [17]. It was proven that the energy consumption of the households is highly influenced by socio-economic characteristics and climate [18].…”

Energy Poverty

“…This includes insights into the causes and patterns of energy poverty in Spain (Phimister, Vera-Toscano, & Roberts, 2015;Sánchez-Guevara Sánchez, Mavrogianni, & Neila González, 2017;Tirado & Jiménez Meneses, 2016); such work has demonstrated the existence of a close link between unemployment and energy poverty, in addition to establishing that existing social safety nets are failing to provide adequate assistance to energy-poor populations. An extensive study in the Greek capital Athens has uncovered the links between low incomes and energy efficiency by establishing that 'low income people are more likely to be living in old buildings with poor envelope conditions' (Santamouris et al, 2007, p. 893).…”

Estimating Adaptive Setpoint Temperatures Using Weather Stations

“…When the internal operative temperature is within the limits of EN 15251, active systems are not used, thus reducing the energy consumption. The use of such setpoint temperatures allows significant decreases to be obtained depending on the case study and the [14,15,22]. The results show a decrease between 10% and 18% in the cooling consumption by using adaptive comfort models.…”

“…The results allowed the heating and cooling energy consumption to be reduced between 50% and 61%; (ii) in a later study, Sánchez-García et al [13] analysed the potential of using mixed modes with adaptive setpoint temperatures in office buildings. The results allowed both the energy demand and energy consumption to be reduced by 74.6% and 59.7%, respectively, with respect to the reference model; (iii) Sánchez-Guevara Sánchez et al [15] applied monthly variations of setpoint temperatures to a social housing, reducing the energy requirement between 20% and 80%; (iv) Spyropoulos and Balaras [16] evaluated the possibility of reducing the energy consumption in 39 bank branches in Greece by modifying the setpoint temperatures. A temperature of 26 • C for the upper limit and 20 • C for the lower limit resulted in a saving of 45% in the energy consumption; (v) Yun et al [17] studied the improvement of using an adaptive comfort model in setpoint temperatures of office buildings.…”