Retrofitting of homes for people in fuel poverty: Approach based on household thermal comfort

In a context of fuel poverty, the application of cost-effective methodology for energy retrofitting of buildings is ineffective. In these situations, there is no energy consumption reduction and thermal comfort is hardly achieved. This paper introduces a methodology to choose the most appropriate re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energy policy 2017-01, Vol.100, p.283-291
Main Authors: Vilches, Alberto, Barrios Padura, Ángela, Molina Huelva, Marta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Buildings
Cost-effective
Criteria
Decision making
Energy
Energy consumption
Energy costs
Energy development
Energy policy
Energy retrofit
Europe
Family income
Fuel poverty
Fuels
Households
Housing
Methodology
Policy making
Poverty
Quality of life
Regional development
Regional planning
Retrofitting
Studies
Thermal comfort
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Summary:In a context of fuel poverty, the application of cost-effective methodology for energy retrofitting of buildings is ineffective. In these situations, there is no energy consumption reduction and thermal comfort is hardly achieved. This paper introduces a methodology to choose the most appropriate retrofit measure in a context of fuel poverty. This methodology is based on thermal comfort as the main criterion, and secondarily, it is based on the budget for paying monthly energy bills and initial costs. This study demonstrates how thermal comfort and monthly available income of households must be the first criterion for decision-making process. The methodology has been applied in four buildings. Results demonstrate why active retrofit measures are ineffective when monthly budget to pay energy bills is reduced. In conclusion, recommendations are made to promote efficient public policies in energy retrofit. The study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and carried out within the research project ‘{Re} Programa. (Re)habitation +(Re)generation +(Re)programming’ during 2013–2015. •A methodology is proposed for energy retrofit in a fuel poverty context.•Householder's monthly budget determines the energy retrofit effectiveness.•The cost-effective methodology is not applicable in a fuel poverty context.•Energy retrofit does not reduce energy consumption in a fuel poverty context.•Energy retrofit does not produce monthly monetary savings in a fuel poverty context.
ISSN:0301-4215
1873-6777
DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2016.10.016