Close Up Of Mature Man Trying To Keep Warm By Radiator At Home During Cost Of Living Energy Crisis

We are fighting against
energy poverty

WHAT IS ENERGY POVERTY?

Energy poverty refers to a household’s inability to maintain a socially and materially adequate level of domestic energy services, which prevents their effective participation in society.

Causes

The cost of energy

The fact that a family meets its energy needs at home entails a monetary cost that, unfortunately, is not cheap. Additionally, the constant rise in energy prices over recent years has plunged millions of people into both absolute and relative poverty.

Low incomes

The unemployed, part-time workers, and others with similar characteristics have low incomes, which makes it difficult for them to afford energy costs and ensure their household’s well-being.

Energy inefficiency in residential properties

Energy inefficiency occurs when insufficient or no energy is used to meet a household’s energy requirements. This situation also arises when homes have heating systems or appliances that do not function properly and are challenging to replace.

Consequences

It has serious consequences for people’s well-being, as they may be exposed to inadequate living conditions, such as:

Lack of thermal comfort
Reduced income for other goods and services, which forces individuals to make undesirable choices (having to choose between paying for heating or food, and/or facing the risk of non-payment and disconnection due to lack of resources).
Significant impact on fundamental issues such as finding employment, particularly affecting those at risk of social exclusion. This can cause difficulties in the workplace.

Some information about energy poverty

The World Health Organization recommends that a home should maintain a temperature between 18°C and 22°C in winter and approximately 25°C in summer. However, 9% of Spaniards fail to achieve this temperature, and live in energy poverty that places them on the precarious edge of poverty.
In Cádiz, over 2,000 families have sought assistance from the local council to help cover their energy bills, as they simply cannot afford to pay their bills at the end of the month.
Of the two million households experiencing energy poverty, 62% are located in urban areas. 60% of these two million households are situated in dwellings within collective housing.
By 2050, more than 75% of the world’s population will live in cities.

In Spain, according to a study by the Observatory for Sustainability, the profits of the leading electricity companies are twice those of their European counterparts, while domestic consumers face some of the highest prices in Europe, and this is not accidental. Conversely, these companies are the largest emitters of CO2 in Spain.
In contrast to water, access to which was recognised as a human right in 2010 and which is a public service managed by local authorities, energy in the European Union is considered a commodity, not a public service. Energy is a liberalised, i.e. privatised, service of general economic interest.
According to Eurostat’s report from October 2021, Spain is the European country experiencing the most significant increase in energy poverty, with 1 in 10 people affected by this issue. When it comes to households, this equates to over 2.6 million families. However, only 1.3 million people benefit from the subsidised rate, as 3 out of 10 households in Spain are unaware of its existence.

Some information about energy poverty

The World Health Organization recommends that a home should maintain a temperature between 18°C and 22°C in winter and approximately 25°C in summer. However, 9% of Spaniards fail to achieve this temperature, and live in energy poverty that places them on the precarious edge of poverty.

In Cádiz, over 2,000 families are seeking assistance from the local council to help cover their energy bills, as they simply cannot afford to pay their invoices at the end of the month.

Of the two million households experiencing fuel poverty, 62% are situated in urban areas. 60 % of these two million households are situated in dwellings within collective housing.

In Spain, according to a study by the Observatory for Sustainability, the profits of the leading electricity companies are twice those of their European counterparts, while domestic consumers face some of the highest prices in Europe, and this is not accidental. Conversely, these companies are the largest emitters of CO2 in Spain.

In contrast to water, access to which was recognised as a human right in 2010 and which is a public service managed by local authorities, energy in the European Union is considered a commodity, not a public service. Energy is a liberalised, i.e. privatised, service of general economic interest.

According to Eurostat’s report from October 2021, Spain is the European country experiencing the most significant increase in energy poverty, with 1 in 10 people affected by this issue. When it comes to households, this equates to over 2.6 million families. However, only 1.3 million people benefit from the social bonus, as 3 out of 10 households in Spain are unaware of its existence.

Solutions

According to Dolores Huerta, the Director General of GBCe (Green Building Council España), the most effective and sustainable long-term solution to combat energy poverty is the renovation of buildings. Four lines of action are proposed for this:

The subsidised rate.
Public investment in the rehabilitation of vulnerable households.
Shared self-consumption and energy sovereignty.
Support for specialist associations

For example, thanks to Visalia, Fundación Energía Responsable has launched its programme to combat energy poverty, which is free of charge for vulnerable consumers. In addition to providing advice, the foundation helps these consumers access subsidies for the electricity and thermal subsidised rate, defends their rights against the relevant electricity companies, and works with industry experts who volunteer for the foundation. Most importantly, they prevent power supply cuts and, in severe cases, even cover the payment of some electricity bills.

La energía comunitaria revitaliza la economía local de varias maneras:

Facilita que los beneficios económicos y sociales de las instalaciones renovables se queden en los territorios.
Crea empleos.
Disminuye las facturas eléctricas.
Aumenta la independencia energética frente al oligopolio.
Reduce el consumo energético.

Para que todo esto sea posible, aparece en el escenario legislativo un elemento clave: las Comunidades Energéticas.

Entre los beneficios de las comunidades energéticas se incluye la disminución de la factura eléctrica para la ciudadanía, PYMES y administraciones. En las zonas rurales se abren grandes oportunidades con el aprovechamiento de la fotovoltaica cuando sea posible, y en las ciudades los diferentes perfiles de consumo entre las pymes y las zonas residenciales se complementan mejorando de esta forma el rendimiento económico, energético y el porcentaje de autoconsumo de la instalación.
Dentro de las comunidades energéticas se quieren potenciar las comunidades de vecinos como núcleos urbanos de generación de energía verde ya que es la figura más realista y eficaz para producir energía en las ciudades.

Las comunidades energéticas como cooperativas de barrios y pueblos son clave por su valor en la creación de empleo y tecnología renovable. Pero, más importante aún, las comunidades energéticas, y en concreto las comunidades de vecinos son también relevantes por el fomento de comunidades resilientes a partir del refuerzo del tejido social, la creación de colectividad y empoderamiento ciudadano, así como de democratización del sistema energético. Es fundamental contextualizar el desarrollo del autoconsumo como paso previo y necesario al de las Comunidades Energéticas, y como sistema de complementación a estas.
El empoderamiento energético de la ciudadanía conlleva la integración de los diversos actores participantes, empresas, entidades, administraciones, etc. Los proyectos energéticos son iniciadores o semilla de otros muchos, como por ejemplo aquellos relacionados con la soberanía alimentaria, la economía circular o la cultura con perspectiva ecosocial, y generan un efecto multiplicador, que va mucho más allá del ámbito energético.
Actuar frente a la emergencia climática de forma equitativa para que todas las actuaciones constituyan una oportunidad para luchar contra la pobreza energética, disminuir las emisiones, incidir en la participación de las mujeres como vectores del cambio que la sociedad requiere ante la crisis ecológica, y todo esto al mismo tiempo que se refuerza el tejido productivo local, hace de las diferentes opciones de gestión comunitaria de la energía, una de las herramientas más esperanzadoras de transformación social.

El 80 % de la energía que compramos procede de Arabia Saudí, Argelia, Nigeria, México, Libia o Rusia. El acaparamiento de estos recursos está inextricablemente ligado a la violencia, las guerras y los abusos que sufre la población estos países, donde los derivados de la venta de estos combustibles sostienen regímenes donde las minorías étnicas, las mujeres, la comunidad LGTB+, o las personas que no rinden culto y sumisión a la doctrina mayoritaria son perseguidas y castigadas. La energía también está detrás de las migraciones y de las muertes en el Estrecho.

Cada vez que nos subimos a un autobús o arrancamos el motor del coche, uno de cada 10 litros del carburante viene de Arabia Saudí.

En 2050 más del 75 % de la población mundial habitará en ciudades. Debemos establecer unos indicadores para el desarrollo urbano que fomenten la equidad social en un entorno saludable en materia alojamiento, transporte y alimentación.

En 2050 millones de personas vivirán en suburbios y zonas marginales, de forma insalubre y pobre, afectadas por el cambio climático, pandemias y desajustes laborales por las nuevas tecnologías. Ello obliga a tomar medidas adecuadas para tratar de corregir el drama actual y venidero, buscando soluciones basadas en la naturaleza.