What is it about?
This article examines the main climatic, socioeconomic and technical factors that explain the vulnerability to cold and heat at home in Portugal. Based on an energy poverty index, the article shows the extent and variability of vulnerability to cold and heat throughout the country. Based on the interviews conducted, the article examines how households cope with thermal discomfort at home in their everyday life. Results show that there is social acceptance of feeling cold and heat at home.
Featured Image
Photo by Maurice Sahl on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Portugal is one of the European Union countries most vulnerable to energy poverty. This is the first study on energy poverty in Portugal that provides a comprehensive analysis of the problem.
Perspectives
Energy poverty has negative consequences on the well-being and health of the population. But we need to take into account the environmental impact of increasing thermal comfort. In the case of Portugal the solution seems to be the renovation of buildings through passive thermal systems and increasing energy efficiency and renewable energies.
Dr Ana Horta
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Ciências Sociais
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Energy poverty in Portugal: Combining vulnerability mapping with household interviews, Energy and Buildings, November 2019, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.109423.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
