Energy poverty, housing and health: the lived experience of older low-income Australians

Porto Valente, C; Morris, A; Wilkinson, S

Energy poverty, housing and health: the lived experience of older low-income Australians

Porto Valente, C

Morris, A

Wilkinson, S

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Publisher:: Routledge
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Building Research & Information, 2021, pp. 1-13
Issue Date:: 2021-08-31

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Porto Valente, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8539-8200
dc.contributor.author	Morris, A https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7652-5370
dc.contributor.author	Wilkinson, S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9266-1858
dc.date.accessioned	2021-09-02T12:17:25Z
dc.date.available	2021-09-02T12:17:25Z
dc.date.issued	2021-08-31
dc.identifier.citation	Building Research & Information, 2021, pp. 1-13
dc.identifier.issn	0961-3218
dc.identifier.issn	1466-4321
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/150297
dc.description.abstract	Energy poverty (EP) is the product of three main factors – the cost of energy, household income and the energy e!ciency of the dwelling. Climate change and rising energy costs are likely to accentuate EP. This study extends our knowledge about EP in Australia and examines its relationship to housing and health. Drawing on 23 semi-structured interviews, we map the impacts of EP on older low-income people residing in Sydney and Melbourne. These impacts include food insecurity, an incapacity to purchase essential consumer items, an inability to a"ord required medical procedures, thermal discomfort and social exclusion. We found that many interviewees do not recognize their own EP situation or are too ashamed to ask for help. Thus, the overall cost of EP to individuals and the broader society can be far higher than what statistics indicate. The article proposes a conceptualization of the relationship between housing, health and EP drawing on a #gure we have created. The severe impacts of EP suggest that measures to lessen it among older vulnerable households are urgently required.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Routledge
dc.relation.ispartof	Building Research & Information
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/09613218.2021.1968293
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1201 Architecture, 1202 Building
dc.subject.classification	Building & Construction
dc.title	Energy poverty, housing and health: the lived experience of older low-income Australians
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.location.activity	Australia
utslib.for	1201 Architecture
utslib.for	1202 Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/lnstitute for Public Policy and Governance
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building/School of Built Environment
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CCDP - Contemporary Design Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/e-Press
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - IPPG - Institute for Public Policy and Governance
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	true
dc.date.updated	2021-09-02T12:17:24Z
pubs.publication-status	Published

Abstract:

Energy poverty (EP) is the product of three main factors – the cost of energy, household income and the energy e!ciency of the dwelling. Climate change and rising energy costs are likely to accentuate EP. This study extends our knowledge about EP in Australia and examines its relationship to housing and health. Drawing on 23 semi-structured interviews, we map the impacts of EP on older low-income people residing in Sydney and Melbourne. These impacts include food insecurity, an incapacity to purchase essential consumer items, an inability to a"ord required medical procedures, thermal discomfort and social exclusion. We found that many interviewees do not recognize their own EP situation or are too ashamed to ask for help. Thus, the overall cost of EP to individuals and the broader society can be far higher than what statistics indicate. The article proposes a conceptualization of the relationship between housing, health and EP drawing on a #gure we have created. The severe impacts of EP suggest that measures to lessen it among older vulnerable households are urgently required.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/150297