In the report, energy poverty is understood as a person’s inability to adequately heat up their home. The main contributors to energy poverty are rising energy prices, low income and non energy-efficient buildings.

This year’s Healthy Homes Barometer has found that Europeans who experience economic hardships are more likely to also experience energy poverty. Looking at the European economic landscape, one in three has difficulties making ends meet – and over half of them live in a cold dwelling. Forty-five percent actually keep their temperatures down in order to lower their energy bills³. 

Health risks of living in a cold home

These people live not only in cold, but in unhealthy, buildings. Europeans who live in energy poverty are almost three times as likely to live in a damp, unhealthy building. And living in a cold home also has major impacts on health. Twice as many Europeans report poor health when they are unable to keep their dwelling at a comfortable temperature in the winter. 

³ Healthy Homes Barometer (2016)

Eat or heat? This is the dilemma faced by 49 million Europeans waking up to a cold day. And the consequences are significant: twice as many people have poor health when living in energy poverty.

When Europeans cannot keep their homes comfortably warm in winter:

Twice as many Europeans report poor health

Twice as many Europeans report lack of daylight

Almost three times as many Europeans report dampness 

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