InventAir: Inventories of energy poverty to support clean air policies in Eastern European countries
The project is completed. It aimed to explore the multiple environmental and climate impacts of energy poverty by focusing on the development and implementation of clean air and energy poverty policies in Eastern European countries (EEC). In the long term, the project will help shape local, national and EU policies and actions for tackling energy poverty and air pollution by raising public awareness and highlighting the link between inefficient heating practices among energy-poor households and rapid air pollution in their communities.
Energy Policy Energy Poverty Energy Transition and Climate-Neutral Buildings Municipalities
Project info
Bulgaria, Germany, Slovenia
09/18 - 04/19
Civil society, Local governments, National governments
96,533.00 €
Contact info
Ina Karova
- Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) e.V.
- Energy Agency of Plovdiv (EAP)
- Focus Association for Sustainable Development
Background
Both in Bulgaria and Slovenia, energy poverty is closely related to the inability of households to afford to keep their homes adequately warm. Low-income households not only live in poor housing conditions but also heat their homes using low-quality wood and coal in primitive stoves that are available on the market due to a lack of standards and regulations. They are a major cause of air pollution inside homes and in the surrounding communities. The issue can be addressed through adequate municipal planning with joint measures to alleviate energy poverty and strengthen air quality policies.
Project
Although energy poverty is spreading rapidly across the European Union, it has distinct specificities in Eastern European countries: low-income households cannot afford to change old, inefficient heating equipment or replace poor quality heating fuels. Thus, they become the primary cause of a dramatic seasonal increase in air pollution in their communities. The lack of precise data on the quantities and quality of the fuels used makes it difficult to estimate environmental, climate and health impacts. InventAir will address the problem by developing a methodological framework for making an inventory of energy poverty and transferring know-how and experience to develop municipal woodstove changeout roadmaps as effective policy tools to abate energy poverty and reduce pollutant emissions across the EU
State of Results
The methodology for wood stove changeout roadmaps developed by the project was used to analyse the impact of replacing 5,000 old stoves in the city of Plovdiv. This evidence-based approach can be used to change the city’s clean air policy towards more sustainable and lower emission heating options.
The InventAir project has collected evidence on the specific challenges related to air pollution and its relation to energy poverty in private households in Central and Eastern Europe. The findings were taken up by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in its report “Air Quality in Europe – 2020” and have provided specific discussions on clean air in Central and Eastern Europe within the EU hub.
Last update: April 2024
