Energy Poverty Policy Predictions (EP3)

Energy poverty policies are now mandated by European Union regulations including energy renovations, energy coaching and energy subsidy interventions within homes. Yet, the long-term effects of such policies are usually only predicted and not evaluated. Thus, we visited 203 homes and used mixed methods to evaluate effects of these different policies implemented from 2020-2025. Subsidies have no long-term impact. Coaching reduces monthly electricity by 56kWh and gas consumption by 30.7m3 and percentage of income spent on energy, groceries and rent together by 3.48%. However, renovations lower gas (59.4m3) and energy bills (€110) with stable indoor temperatures. Lidar scans show relationships between indoor spatial characteristics and energy bills. Sociodemographic data finds that homes which were still energy poor post-policy, were more likely to live on social allowances and have chronic illnesses.